San Diego Gas & Electric proposes 140-mile 500-kV line

San Diego Gas & Electric has begun public outreach on the Golden Pacific Powerlink, a proposed 500-kilovolt transmission line that would run about 140 to 145 miles from the Imperial Valley toward the San Diego-Orange county line. The utility says the project is needed to add transmission capacity, reduce congestion and support future electric demand as California electrifies homes, vehicles and businesses. The route now drawing the sharpest attention would pass through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California’s largest state park, according to local reporting and conservation groups. A formal application to the California Public Utilities Commission has not yet been filed, leaving the project in an early stage of public comment and route debate. ### Where would the line actually run? SDG&E said in its August 29, 2025 announcement that the line would run between the existing Imperial Valley Substation and the border of San Diego and Orange counties. The project website describes it as a new 500-kilovolt transmission line meant to strengthen the regional grid and maintain reliability as electricity demand rises. (goldenpacificpowerlink.com) Anza-Borrego Foundation said SDG&E released a proposed route map on April 13, 2026 showing a path through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. KPBS reported on April 30 that the proposed route would bisect the park, and the Los Angeles Times reported May 17 that the plan had triggered strong criticism from conservation groups and residents. ### Why does SDG&E say the project is needed? CAISO’s 2022-2023 Transmission Plan identified the need for new transmission projects across California, including infrastructure aimed at easing constraints in Southern California and supporting the state’s clean-energy buildout. (sempra.com) SDG&E says Golden Pacific Powerlink emerged from that planning process. Scott Crider, SDG&E’s president, said in the company’s 2025 release that the utility must strengthen the grid to meet growing electricity demand in Southern California while keeping affordability in mind. (theabf.org) Erica Martin, the SDG&E official overseeing the project, told KPBS that CAISO identified the need for a new line to help California meet energy policy goals and facilitate the clean-energy transition. (caiso.com) ### Why are opponents focused on Anza-Borrego? Anza-Borrego Desert State Park covers nearly 650,000 acres, the Los Angeles Times reported, making it California’s largest state park. Conservation groups argue that a 500-kilovolt line through the park would affect protected landscapes, wildlife habitat and the visitor experience tied to the desert’s open views and dark skies. Sergio Ojeda, a community organizer with Imperial Valley Equity and Justice, told KPBS that large infrastructure projects can leave Imperial Valley treated as a “sacrifice zone” for benefits delivered elsewhere in the state. (sempra.com) Anza-Borrego Foundation says the project could cross designated wilderness, cultural preserves and ecologically sensitive areas if the current route is pursued. (aol.com) ### How big is this project in practical terms? The project is proposed at 500 kilovolts, the highest-voltage class of transmission infrastructure built in California, according to Anza-Borrego Foundation. The group says towers for lines of that class can reach 150 to 200 feet tall, with a cleared right-of-way hundreds of feet wide. The cost estimate cited by opponents is about $2.3 billion, which aligns with the upper end of project costs discussed in CAISO-related reporting on the state’s broader transmission plan. (kpbs.org) SDG&E said in 2025 that the costs of high-voltage lines providing statewide benefits are spread across California customers within CAISO’s balancing area, with about 9% of the impact falling on SDG&E customers based on then-current data. ### What happens next in the permitting fight? (theabf.org) SDG&E says the project is still in community engagement, not formal permitting. The company’s project site says virtual open houses are underway, and Anza-Borrego Foundation says stakeholder feedback is being accepted through early November 2026. Later in 2026, Anza-Borrego Foundation says, SDG&E is expected to file a formal application with the California Public Utilities Commission, which would start a multi-year state and federal environmental review. (theabf.org) SDG&E said in its 2025 release that construction is expected to begin in 2029, with a target in-service date of 2032, subject to state and federal approvals. (goldenpacificpowerlink.com)