The 128-mile, 500kV transmission line will connect SCE’s Devers Substation near Palm Springs to the company’s proposed Midpoint switchyard near Blythe, California. Additionally, SCE will build a 42-mile, 500kV transmission line between the Devers Substation and its Valley Substation in Riverside County as part of the project.
When completed, DPV2 will allow the transfer of an additional 1,200MW of power from the Blythe area in Riverside County to energy customers in Southern California.
Les Starck, vice president of local public affairs at SCE, said: “This favorable decision from the CPUC is an important step in SCE’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the transmission grid in California.
“DPV2 and other transmission projects on which we are working are needed to strengthen service reliability and improve the grid’s ability to transmit electricity from new generating sources such as planned renewable energy projects.”
The DPV2 project is expected to provide the capability to meet generation developers’ request for interconnecting new renewable and conventional generation projects in the solar energy rich areas of Southeastern California. By providing these developers with the earliest possible means to access markets in California, Arizona and other states in the Western region, construction of DPV2 will support these states’ efforts to meet their respective renewable portfolio targets.
The California portion of the project is currently expected to be placed in service in 2013, subject to licensing and regulatory approvals.
However, the CPUC decision authorizing construction of the California portion of the DPV2 project is contingent upon approval by the California Independent System Operator.
