SDG&E Dedicates the Sunrise Powerlink,
a Green Energy Superhighway

Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. joined Sempra Energy chairman and chief executive officer, Debra L. Reed, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) CEO Jessie J. Knight, Jr. and other state and local dignitaries on July 26 in eastern San Diego County to officially inaugurate the Sunrise Powerlink transmission line.

The dedication ceremony, which included representatives from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission and leaders representing the city and county of San Diego, was held at SDG&E’s new Suncrest Substation, a key component of the new transmission project.

“In addition to bolstering regional electric reliability, the Sunrise Powerlink will help SDG&E meet Governor Brown’s and our state’s aggressive renewable energy goals,” Reed said. “The line will enable the development of new solar and wind projects in the Imperial Valley and eastern San Diego to supply our customers.”

The 117-mile, 500-kilovolt (kV) Sunrise Powerlink will enable SDG&E to increase the amount of renewable power it delivers to 33 percent by 2020, a key California environmental initiative.

After a comprehensive five-year environmental review and permitting process, SDG&E broke ground on the project in December 2010. By reducing the original construction timeline from 24 months to just 18 months, the company was able to complete the project in time to help meet summer power demands in the region.

For more on the Sunrise Powerlink, please visit the project's photo and video page.