The project involves building a 30-mile, 500-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line, linking the Serrano substation in Orange County to a substation near the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Power Station (SONGS). This line will mainly use existing rights of way, minimizing environmental impact and local disruption.
Objective: meet growing demand
The project responds to the need to increase transmission capacity to meet the growing demand for electricity, driven by the rise of electric vehicles, heat pumps, data centers and the general electrification of the economy. According to Steve Powell, President and CEO of SCE, this infrastructure is essential to ensure a reliable, resilient power system capable of delivering more clean energy where it’s needed.
SCE-Lotus partnership
The partnership between SCE and Lotus Infrastructure Partners highlights Lotus’ expertise as a developer and owner of transmission assets. Lotus will lead the development of the project, and following completion and regulatory approval, SCE will purchase the entire project and lease 25% of the transmission capacity to Lotus. Himanshu Saxena, President and CEO of Lotus, emphasizes the importance of transmission for the energy transition and welcomes the collaboration with CAISO and SCE to achieve California‘s clean energy goals.
Rigorous selection process
The CAISO’s selection of SCE and Lotus was the result of a rigorous competitive process, in compliance with FREC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) Order no. 1000. Four proposals were examined on the basis of cost, design, implementation and maintenance criteria. This comparative analysis led to the selection of the SCE-Lotus proposal, recognizing their ability to deliver clean energy reliably and economically.
Supporting California’s climate goals
The new transmission line will help meet California’s 2045 climate goals by increasing renewable energy transmission capacity. By boosting system reliability in southern Orange County, the project supports the state’s air quality and energy transition initiatives.
The partnership between Southern California Edison and Lotus Infrastructure Partners marks a significant step forward in the development of the transmission infrastructure needed to support the growth of renewable energy in California. This project illustrates the importance of collaboration and innovation in achieving ambitious energy targets.
