Background: 

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has proposed to construct a new 150 mile transmission line between El Centro and San Diego. The stated purpose of the project is to bring renewable sources into San Diego from Imperial County, reduce energy costs and improve electric reliability in the San Diego area. SDG&E has filed an application with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to construct the Sunrise Powerlink Project (SRPL).  A Right-of-Way application has been filed with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to address the transmission line crossing BLM administered lands.

The CPUC, as the lead agency under California law, and BLM, as the federal lead agency, will prepare a joint Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 

Seven public scoping meetings were held during the week of Oct. 2, 2006. Since the 2006 scoping period, the EIR/EIS team has completed preliminary assessment of nearly 100 alternatives, including 24 identified by SDG&E in its Proponent’s Environmental Assessment. The rest of the alternatives were suggested by the public and public agencies during scoping (September/October 2006), or were developed by the EIR/EIS team in order to reduce or avoid impacts of the Sunrise Powerlink Project as proposed.

A second round of scoping meetings was scheduled for the week of February 5, 2007 to seek public input regarding the preliminary determinations on alternatives recommended for detailed EIR/EIS analysis. In addition, written comments received or postmarked by February 24, 2007 were accepted.

For more information, please visit California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).