California regulators have approved a nearly $2-billion, high-voltage power line that would run through Imperial and San Diego County. KPBS Environmental Reporter Ed Joyce has more on the Sunrise Powerlink.
The California Public Utilities Commission voted 4-1 to approve San Diego Gas & Electric's Sunrise Powerlink transmission line without conditions that it be used for renewable energy.
SDG&E President Debra Reed released a prepared statement.
Reed says the power line is crucial to meeting a state mandate that requires public utilities to get 20-percent of their power from renewable sources by 2010.
Commissioner Dian Grueneich voted against the approval because she says it didn't require SDG&E to use the line to bring electricity generated by renewable energy.
Michael Shames with the Utility Consumers Action Network says the group will appeal the PUC decision.
Shames:
I think it's really going to come down to the courts. I don't think the final decision on this line will be made by the public utilities commission.
SDG&E President Reed says the company will work to finalize engineering and design on the project.
The company expects construction to be completed in 2012.
Ed Joyce, KPBS News.