California Injects $7.3 Billion into Power Transmission Projects

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--California is backing up its ambitious plans for renewable power generation and storage with much-needed transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure. The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) recently approved a plan that sets aside about $7.3 billion for nearly four dozen transmission lines over the next decade. Industrial Info already is tracking more than $8.2 billion worth of active and proposed T&D projects across California, about half of which is attributed to projects that have a medium-to-high likelihood (70% or more) of moving forward as planned.

Click on the image at right for a graph detailing the top 10 parent companies for active and proposed T&D projects across California, by total investment value.

CAISO's transmission plan, developed in coordination with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the California Energy Commission, supports "more than 40 gigawatts (GW) of new resource development identified by the CPUC as cost-effective and needed to meet the state's clean-energy goals over the next 10 years," according to a press release from CAISO. The new capacity will carry more than 17 GW of solar-generated energy and more than 3.5 GW of in-state wind-generated energy, according to the ISO, in addition to output from various geothermal and battery energy-storage system (BESS) projects.

Edison International (NYSE:EIX) (Rosemead, California) leads all other parent companies in its current investment in California T&D development. Southern California Edison Company, a subsidiary, is wrapping up a $150 million rebuild of a line from Hesperia, California, to Laughlin, Nevada. The 200-mile stretch connects two substations owned by the subsidiary. Southern California Edison also is seeking to build 139 miles of new line from Riverside to Ontario, California, partly to reduce overloads.

Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can read detailed reports covering the ongoing Hesperia-to-Laughlin line and the proposed Riverside-to-Ontario line.

Later this year, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power expects to finish construction on its $52 million Haskell-Sylmar No. 2 Line in Santa Clarita, a heavily populated area just north of Los Angeles. The 12-mile line will run between two substations managed by Southern California Edison. Subscribers can read more in a detailed project report.

While it trails Edison in its total investment, PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) (Oakland, California) is at work on a larger number of projects across California, including the $35.5 million overhaul of a line from Linden to Oakdale. Pacific Gas & Electric Company, the utility unit of PG&E, is replacing existing conductors on 19 miles of overhead line. The utility also is proposing the reconductoring of 17 miles of line from Buttonwillow to Bakersfield, among other projects. Subscribers can read detailed reports on the ongoing Linden-to-Oakdale line and the proposed Buttonwillow-to-Bakersfield line.

NextEra Energy Incorporated (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida) is one of several companies working with PG&E to develop BESS projects to reinforce T&D networks across California. NextEra is proposing the 400-MW Kola Energy Storage project near Tracy, California, a stand-alone, transmission-connected BESS that would tie into PG&E's Tesla Substation. Subscribers can learn more from Industrial Info's project report.

CAISO issued a draft of its 10-year transmission plan on April 3, with an initial estimated cost of $9.3 billion. The cost was reduced to $7.3 billion after stakeholders requested additional analysis on one of the transmission upgrades, according to the ISO. For more information, see April 12, 2023, article - California Grid Operator Eyes $9.3 Billion of New Transmission.

California does not expect to slow its T&D buildout anytime soon. CAISO expects next year's transmission plan will call for up to 70 GW of additional T&D capacity by 2033, eventually reaching 120 GW to support California's goal of a carbon-free power system by 2045.

Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project Database can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.

Subscribers can click here for a full list of reports for active and proposed T&D projects across California.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).