California approves renewable energy grid extension

California's electricity regulator last week approved a proposal to build another 173 miles of new transmission line in order to connect new renewable energy systems to the grid.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) said the new infrastructure would represent the first major transmission project in California built for the specific purpose of accessing renewable sources in remote areas.

Under the plans, Southern California Edison will build the $1.96bn grid extension to connect the wind rich Tehachapi region north of Los Angeles to the state's main grid.

When completed in 2014, the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project expects to transmit up to 4,500MW of renewable energy generation to Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties - enough to power three million homes.

The regulator said the new infrastructure will also improving the reliability of the California transmission grid serving growing demand in the Tehachapi region and ease transmission constraints in the Los Angeles basin.

Southern California Edison has already begun work on the lines, most of which it expects to be completed by the end of 2009.

The utility also has contracts for up to 1,800MW of wind power in the Tehachapi region in place.

"This important CPUC decision will enable Southern California Edison to tap into additional supplies of clean wind energy to help improve the environment and reduce dependence on foreign sources of energy," said Les Starck, Southern California Edison vice president for local public affairs.

The decision came as the CPUC also approved Southern California Edison's plans to build 90MW of new wind, and granted permission to Pacific Gas and Electric for it to proceed with plans to build 48MW of new solar power capacity.