Sunrise Powerlink

The Sunrise Powerlink is a 117-mile, 500,000-volt transmission line linking San Diego to the Imperial Valley, one of the most renewable-rich regions in the Southwest United States. This $1.9 billion project endured a 5-year environmental review and permitting process in addition to an 18-month construction featuring both overhead and underground technology, disparate climates, and rough, remote terrain. Without exception, San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) Sunrise Powerlink has been one of the most scrutinized transmission power line projects in California history.

The transmission itself was designed for 1,000 megawatts of power, or enough energy to serve 650,000 homes, delivering a significant amount of wind and solar power to San Diego. The Sunrise Powerlink has become a critical component to the future of California energy as SDG&E’s power has increasingly been derived from renewable resources. When SDG&E officially received final permitting for Sunrise, they signed well over 1000 MW worth of wind and solar renewable agreements. But before they could move forward with these agreements, Sunrise had to get the go ahead. This is where Chambers Group came in.

Chambers Group delivered both environmental permitting and extensive monitoring. Our biologists conducted reconnaissance-level surveys of several proposed routes to identify sensitive wildlife and plant species for future placement of electrical transmission lines. The project required identification of sensitive habitat and areas needing future focused surveys. To meet an accelerated schedule, numerous focused surveys and pre- construction surveys were required. Chambers Group assisted the construction team by performing surveys, having negotiations with agency staff, and providing up to 70 biologists per day to perform surveys and compliance monitoring duties.

These energy supply goals were as ambitious as they were prominent, and Sunrise Powerlink created the new standard for environmental permitting and monitoring in California.