Transmission and Generation
A Balanced Approach: Power Plants and Transmission Lines
While adding power plants is an important component of SDG&E’s Long-term Resource Plan, it is not the entire answer. We need a balanced approach of adding more power plants and transmission lines to maintain a reliable supply of power. New power plants in San Diego County are either in service or under construction:
- The 46-megawatt Miramar Energy Center first came on line in July 2005
- The 550 megawatt Palomar Energy Center in Escondido came on-line in 2006
- The 570-megawatt Otay Mesa Energy Center will be in service by summer 2009
Even with the new plants, forecasts show that SDG&E customers will require more energy than can be produced locally or imported on existing electric transmission lines by 2010. That time frame takes into account SDG&E's forecast of the growth in electricity demand in the area, as well as our best assumptions about when local aging power plants may shut down. The forecast shows a shortage of more than 200 megawatts by 2010.
SDG&E must expand its transmission system to ensure it can reliably import enough cost effective electricity into the region to meet the growing demand. The Sunrise Powerlink would also reduce reliance on local, aging power plants that are less efficient and more expensive to operate.
To maintain a reliable supply of power, we need a balanced approach of adding more power plants and transmission lines.
2005: Miramar Energy Center
2006: Palomar Energy Center
2009: Otay Mesa Energy Center
