(SEE ATTACHMENT FOR FIGURES) 

Regional Power Needs, Sunrise
Powerlink, and Alternatives
February 6, 2006
Bill Powers, P.E.
Border Power Plant Working Group
www.borderpowerplants.org

San Diego Regional Energy Strategy 2030, July 2003
www.sdenergy.org/uploads/Regional_Energy_Strategy_Final_07_16_03.pdf

Goal 1: Achieve Consensus on Energy Issues
• Achieve and represent regional consensus on
energy issues at the state and federal levels.
• Develop an inclusive strategy to involve all
interested stakeholders in energy discussions
and decisions.
• Conduct an annual energy summit to focus on
current issues.

San Diego Regional Energy Strategy 2030, July 2003
Our Vision: Local Control, Local Benefits
Goal 2: Generate 65% of peak demand with
in-county generation by 2010, 75% by
2030 (priority to replacement of South
Bay and Encina power plants)
Goal 3A: Increase renewables to 25% by 2020,
40% by 2030
Goal 3B: Achieve 50% of total renewables in
County

The Developer’s Transmission Vision –
What Are Implications?
• Gives developers of poorly located (from end
user standpoint) merchant powerplants access to
multiple California markets.
• Transmission cost to developers is $0.
• In case of Sunrise Powerlink, transmission cost
to ratepayers is $1 billion+.
• Q: Do we want our transmission model to
promote wholesale import power markets or local
control/supply?

SDGE 08-27-04 Comment on Anza Borrego SP
General Plan: p. 3,“We will not be able to take advantage
of a substantial amount of currently identified renewable
resources, if land use restrictions such as the Park's
exclusionary zoning prevent transmission access to
renewable resources."

CPUC 12-15-05 Resolution E-3965, SDGE
Renewables Contracts: p. 9, “SDG&E’s ability to
procure from (renewable) resources bid from locations in the
Imperial Valley area are contingent upon SDG&E
successfully being able to license and construct a new 500
kV line from the Imperial Valley area to San Diego by 2010.”
SDGE to CPUC in 12-14-05 Sunrise Application:
p. V-36, “The 20% renewable goal in 2010 can be met with
imports "even if the Sunrise Powerlink were not built"
2003 SDGE Proposed Transmission Addition
Direct Testimony of David Korinek, SDGE Transmission Planning Manager, April 15, 2003, California
Public Utilities Commission proceeding R.01-10-024.

Is Sunrise Powerlink Only/Best Option? No.
map source: SDGE Transmission Comparison Study Status Report, December 2004, STEP meeting
•Repowering 700 MW South
Bay Power Plant extends until
at least 2015 any import need.
•Accounting for increased
energy efficiency, 300 MW by
2012, extends timeline further.
•SDGE not accounting for any
distributed generation or
increased solar usage.
•Garamendi Principle calls for
upgrading existing lines first.
•LADWP-IID Green Path will
move all Imperial Valley
renewables.
•500 kV Sunrise purpose is to
move power from Sempra
plants in Mexico and Arizona.

Garamendi Principle – Transmission Siting
SB 2431 (Garamendi), Chapter 1457, 62, Statutes of 1988
1. Encourage the use of existing rights-of-way
(ROW) by upgrading existing transmission
facilities where technically and economically
feasible.
2. When construction of new transmission lines is
required, encourage expansion of existing ROW,
when technically and economically feasible.
3. Provide for the creation of new ROW when
justified by environmental, technical, or economic
reasons defined by the appropriate licensing
agency.

Upgrades and New Transmission Projects
Proposed or Underway in Region
SDG&E’s Transmission Comparison Study, Stakeholder Meeting hosted by Southwest
Transmission Expansion Plan – STEP, October 1, 2004.

SDGE - Congestion at Miguel and Same ROW
Make Southern Route Undesirable. Approved
500 kV Devers-Palo Verde 2 Has Same Issues.

SDG&E’s Transmission Comparison Study, Stakeholder Meeting hosted by Southwest
Transmission Expansion Plan – STEP, October 1, 2004.

Are SDGE Concerns About Mexico Options
Parallel to Southwest Powerlink Real Issues?
SDGE Position (CPCN):
• Transmission upgrade not
in Comisión Federal de
Electricidad (CFE) plans;
• New substation would
be necessary;
• International boundary
creates potential difficulty
permitting and controlling
line;
• However, SDGE identified
Mexico option as “meeting
most technical requirements”
in 2003 Valley
Rainbow CPCN
application alternatives
analysis.
CFE Position (Jan 2004 STEP meeting):
• Must upgrade transmission to avoid
losing North Baja grid if SWPL trips
and surge generated from Mexicali
export plants (Sempra, Intergen).
Sempra Energy and Baja:
• Sempra Energy, SDGE parent, has
developed 230 kV transmission lines,
power plant, gas pipeline, and LNG
terminal in Baja;
• CPUC stated (Sept 2004 R04-01-025
decision) it “would welcome LNG from
Mexico” in authorizing gas utilities to
enter into long-term contracts for LNG;
• The CPUC decision serves as
guarantor of private construction
financing for the Sempra/Shell LNG
terminal in Baja (Shell Trading, R04-
01-025 workshop, 12/03).

Alternative 1 500 kV Presented by SDGE in 2002
SDGE Area Transmission Expansion 2003-2005, David Korinek, SDGE Transmission Planning Manager,
Nov. 1, 2002, CAISO Southwest Transmission Expansion Plan meeting

Alternative 2 500 kV Presented by SDGE in 2002
SDGE Area Transmission Expansion 2003-2005, David Korinek, SDGE Transmission Planning
Manager, Nov. 1, 2002, CAISO Southwest Transmission Expansion Plan meeting

Alternative 3 500 kV Presented by SDGE in 2002
SDGE Area Transmission Expansion 2003-2005, David Korinek, SDGE Transmission Planning
Manager, Nov. 1, 2002, CAISO Southwest Transmission Expansion Plan meeting

Alternative 4 230 kV Presented by SDGE in 2002
SDGE Area Transmission Expansion 2003-2005, David Korinek, SDGE Transmission Planning
Manager, Nov. 1, 2002, CAISO Southwest Transmission Expansion Plan meeting

IID Green Path Transmission to Move Imperial Valley
Renewables to Coast via Los Angeles Dept. of Water&Power

Have Any Independent Experts Scrutinized SDGE’s
Assertion that Sunrise is the Only Option? No.
• California Energy Commission – 2004 Interim Integrated Energy Policy Report
(IEPR) – Sunrise is good and we need it.
• California Energy Commission – 2005 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) –
Sunrise is very good and we need it.
• California Energy Commission Imperial Valley Study Group (IVSG) – A
transmission line capable of moving at least 2,000 MW of renewables would be
necessary to move all potential geothermal resources in Imperial Valley by
itself. Therefore, we must have Sunrise Powerlink.
• California Independent System Operator (CAISO) Southwest Transmission
Expansion Plan - STEP. SDGE says they have looked at all the options so we
have to assume they have done a fair and comprehensive effort.
• State Parks – We have been told there are no other options but Sunrise, so I
guess we have to accommodate running the 500 kV line through the Anza
Borrego State Park.
• Imperial Irrigation District – We have a better idea for renewables, but we will tie
into the Sunrise Powerlink if you really want to build it.

Congestion on Existing SDGE Transmission Lines
• Sempra awarded $7 billion, 10-year contract by Gray Davis to provide
power to SCE (Los Angeles) in June 2001 at height of crisis.
• Sempra has refused to renegotiate this very lucrative contract
(ratepayers buy fuel for Sempra).
• Contract allows Sempra to determine which plants will provide power.
• Sempra choosing to provide power from Mexicali and Arizona plants
over SDGE lines even though power not for SDGE customers.
• This practice is causing great deal of congestion on SDGE system.
• Sempra gets paid to not congest SDGE lines. Ratepayers pay.
• Sempra has opposed having SCE contract transferred to SDGE, which
would greatly reduce congestion.
• In any case, practice will stop when contract expires in 2011.

Conclusions
• SDGE emphasis on power imports over local generation is
contrary to consensus reached by San Diego energy
decisionmakers in 2003.
• Import approach benefits parent company, not ratepayers.
• Upgrading South Bay alone to state-of-the-art plant delays
need for any additional transmission until 2015.
• Fair accounting by SDGE of energy efficiency, distributed
generation, and solar further delays need for transmission.
• There are a number of low impact/no impact transmission
upgrade or expansion options proposed by SDGE that the
company is now ignoring in favor of Sunrise Powerlink.
• Green Path provides low impact alternative for moving
renewables out of Imperial County.
• Sempra is artificially causing congestion that SDGE says it
will relieve by building Sunrise Powerlink.