NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW WIND FOR L.A.

The race is on: Those who shrug off the ability of wind energy to assume a portion of base load power generation in the U.S. aren’t paying attention. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) predicts wind energy will generate 20% of U.S. electricity by 2030 if there is adequate transmission. Wind energy now generates 1% of U.S. power but grew by 45% in 2007 to nearly 17,000 megawatts (MW).

The other race: Texas leads the U.S. with about 4,500 MW and California is second with about 2,500 MW. But a new Tehachapi installation in the California high desert northeast of L.A. will have a 4,500 MW capacity – so Texas needs to get busy if it intends to stay on top. Texas wind builders say they expect to top 6,000 MW in 2008.

Footnote to the race: Currently, the biggest U.S. wind energy installation is Texas’ Horse Hollow (730 MW). Texas oilman Boone Pickens has something in the works that might be bigger than the Tehachapi project but, once again, Texas needs to get busy if it wants to hold on to its bragging rights.

click to enlarge

So Cal Ed begins work on wind transmission lines
Bernie Woodall (w/Gary Hill), March 7, 2008 (Reuters)
and
Edison to launch big wind project; The utility says its Tehacapi facility will be the nation’s largest, eventually generating 4,500 megawatts
March 8, 2008 (AP via LA Times)
and
SoCal Edison breaks ground on wind farm to power 3 million homes
March 7, 2008 (AP via SF Chronicle)

WHO
Southern California Edison (SoCalEd) (subsidiary of Edison International); California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) (Michael Peevey, president)

New transmission routes to supply ever-expanding L.A. energy needs. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
The Tehachapi Renewal Transmission Project: New and upgraded 500-kilovolt and 230-KV transmission lines and new substations from a remote region of Southern California to the state’s grid.

WHEN
Planned to be complete by 2013. Phase 1 expected to be complete by 2009.

The project will be built in 11 phases. (click to enlarge)

WHERE
- The new wind energy installation is in the high desert Tehachapi area of northern Los Angeles County and eastern Kern County.
- The new transmission will carry the wind energy-generated electricity from Tehachapi to the state grid where it will be available to customers all over California.
- SoCalEd/Edison International is based in Rosemead, a suburb of Los Angeles, and serves southern, central and coastal California.

WHY
- The new Tehachapi expansion will add 4,500 megawatts of capacity to the grid.
- The project is planned in 11 phases at a $1.8 billion cost.
- Regulatory approval still pending for later phases.
- The project is part of a $5 billion SoCalEd transmission expansion.

Tehachapi Pass has long had productive turbines. New transmission allows a big expansion. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Peevey, CPUC: "Construction of the Tehachapi project will create the single largest power block of wind energy in the United States…"
- Peevey, on the new transmission: "Our action today represents a critical step in alleviating the transmission constraints that have limited our ability to access substantial wind resources in the Tehachapi region…"