The Bureau of Land Management has approved a $1.9 billion high-voltage power line that a San Diego utility says it needs to bring solar, wind and underground heat power from a distant desert.
Tuesday's federal approval means the project can run through 85 miles of land controlled by the BLM, but the San Diego Gas & Electric Co. still needs the approval of the Cleveland National Forest. California regulators approved the power line last month.
The Sunrise Powerlink would run 123 miles from the Imperial Valley into San Diego and carry enough power for about 750,000 homes.
Environmental groups have expressed concerns that SDG&E will never deliver on promises to use the line for renewable power and that ratepayers will have to pick up the tab.
