SCE has started building the first three segments of TRTP, a series of high-voltage electric transmission lines to deliver electricity from new wind farms in the Tehachapi wind source area north of Los Angeles to customers and the California power grid. When all phases are developed, the TRTP will include transmission lines delivering 4,500MW of electricity from wind farms and other generating companies in Northern Los Angeles and Eastern Kern counties, enough energy to supply nearly 3m homes at peak output.
The company said that in addition to bringing wind energy resources to the California transmission grid, the Tehachapi project will improve the reliability of the California transmission grid by enabling the expansion of the transfer capability of ‘Path 26’, one of the state’s most important north/south transmission corridors, serve the growth in energy demand in the Antelope Valley and ease transmission constraints into the Los Angeles basin.
Pending final approval from federal land agencies such as the US Forest Service, the project will begin in eastern Kern County and end in the city of Ontario in San Bernardino County. It will cross portions of the Antelope Valley, the Angeles National Forest, the San Gabriel Valley and the western Inland Empire. Construction of segments 4-11 will begin in 2010, with the project becoming operational in 2014.
Les Starck, vice president of Southern California Edison said: “ This important CPUC decision will enable SCE to tap into additional supplies of clean wind energy to help improve the environment and reduce dependence on foreign sources of energy. TRTP not only would facilitate the interconnection of new wind generation, but also will improve grid reliability to help meet the state’s growing demand for electricity from renewable resources.
