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The California Supreme Court has rejected an appeal filed more than two years ago by Sunrise Powerlink opponents claiming the project's environmental analysis was not done properly. The milestone ruling marks the end of opponents' attempts to invalidate the project on the basis that it violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), allowing San Diego Gas & Electric to deliver clean renewable energy to the region.
"This is yet another significant legal victory for the Sunrise Powerlink," said Ruben Barrales, co-chair of the Community Alliance for the Sunrise Powerlink and President/CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. "SDG&E worked hard to minimize the project's environmental impacts and that has been validated by the courts."
The Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN) and the Center for Biological Diversity had filed a joint petition for a writ of review. The Supreme Court denied it on Wednesday without comment in what's called a "postcard." You can see the ruling by clicking here.
The Sunrise Powerlink has been on the winning end of every legal decision handed down since the line was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in late 2008 and early 2009. The U.S. Forest Service granted a final Record of Decision in mid-2010 allowing the project to move forward.
SDG&E officially broke ground on the Sunrise Powerlink in December 2010 after a lengthy community outreach process intended to educate the public on what to expect during construction. Construction has started on the Alpine underground portion of the line, as well as some overhead sections and related infrastructure, including substations. The line is expected to be operational in 2012.
The Sunrise Powerlink is a 117-mile high-voltage transmission line intended to carry renewable energy from the Imperial Valley to San Diego, increasing electric reliability for our homes and businesses. It will also help SDG&E meet state-mandated renewable energy goals.
For more information on the Sunrise Powerlink, click here.
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