FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Docket #: A.06-08-010

Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov

PUC And BLM Hold Public Meetings On SDG&E'S Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project

SAN FRANCISCO, January 19, 2007 -- The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) encourage the public to attend a second round of public scoping meetings for the Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) that is being prepared for San Diego Gas and Electric Company's (SDG&E) proposed Sunrise Powerlink Project.

A first round of scoping meetings was held in October 2006. In order to hear public comments on alternatives, eight additional scoping meetings are being held as follows:

Monday, February 5, 2007, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Imperial County Board of Supervisors

940 West Main St., Suite 219, El Centro, CA

Monday, February 5, 2007, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Doubletree Golf Resort

14455 Peñasquitos Dr., San Diego, CA

Tuesday, February 6, 2007, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Wynola Pizza Express (Red Barn)

4355 Highway 78, Julian, CA

Tuesday, February 6, 2007, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

San Vicente Inn (San Vicente Room)

24157 San Vicente Rd., Ramona, CA

Wednesday, February 7, 2007, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Boulevard Fire Department

39223 Highway 94, Boulevard, CA

Wednesday, February 7, 2007, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Alpine Community Center (Sage Room)

1830 Alpine Blvd., Alpine, CA

Thursday, February 8, 2007, 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Borrego Springs Resort

1112 Tilting T Dr., Borrego Springs, CA

Friday, February 9, 2007, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

City Hall (Council Chambers)

43200 Business Park Dr., Temecula, CA

This second round of scoping meetings has two main objectives. First, maps and descriptions will be available to show which alternatives are recommended for detailed EIR/EIS analysis and which are recommended for elimination from detailed analysis. Second, the PUC and BLM want to obtain public input on the alternatives recommendations.

This second round of meetings will focus on alternatives to the project as proposed. The alternatives identified by the EIR/EIS team fall into four categories as follows:

· Route Segment Alternatives - These are segments of varying length that deviate from the proposed route to avoid sensitive areas, but would still result in a transmission line that connects the existing Imperial Valley Substation to a new central San Diego County substation by crossing Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, switching from a 500 kV to a 230 kV line, and continuing to Peñasquitos Substation in the City of San Diego.

· Non-Park Alternatives - These alternative routes would avoid Anza-Borrego Desert State Park by following different lengths of the existing 500 kV Southwest Powerlink transmission line south of the Park. Four routes are recommended. Three of these routes would traverse Cleveland National Forest; one would avoid the Forest by staying on private land west of the Forest.

· Non-Wires Alternatives - These alternatives include in-area generation, renewable energy, and energy efficiency options for San Diego County as well as combinations using available infrastructure and new generation to meet project objectives.

· System Alternatives - System alternatives rely on different transmission line upgrades and interconnections to allow the flow of power between generators and population centers, to relieve congestion, and to reduce operational costs of the transmission system. Within the project area, these alternatives include upgrades to the existing transmission infrastructure, different voltage configurations of the proposed line, interconnections to points other than the Imperial Valley Substation, or alternative transmission technologies.

A detailed Public Notice describing each alternative and the recommendation regarding its disposition, as well as a series of maps, are available at http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/static/hottopics/1energy/a0512014.htm. These documents explain which alternatives are recommended for detailed EIR/EIS analysis and which are recommended for elimination.

The proposed Sunrise Powerlink project consists of a 150-mile transmission line that will run between El Centro and northwestern San Diego County. Land along the transmission route is owned or managed by the BLM, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Imperial Irrigation District, Vista Irrigation District, Department of Defense - Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, the City and County of San Diego, and private individuals.

According to SDG&E, the transmission line will have the capacity to import up to 1,000 megawatts of electricity. SDG&E is proposing to add the Sunrise Powerlink to the state's energy grid to improve service reliability, provide greater access to renewable energy and reduce energy costs.

SDG&E must receive approval from the PUC as well as approval from the BLM for a right-of-way grant. As part of the agency review process, the PUC and BLM will prepare an EIR/EIS that will evaluate the environmental impacts of the project and will identify mitigation measures to reduce impacts.

All interested parties are encouraged to attend the scoping meetings identified above to learn more and provide community input on the EIR/EIS and the range of alternatives to be evaluated. Representatives from the PUC and BLM will be available to answer questions.

If specialized accommodations are needed in order to attend the meetings, such as sign language interpreters, please contact the Commission's Public Advisor's Office five business days in advance of the meeting toll free at 866-849-8390 or toll free TTY at 866-836-7825.

For more information on the PUC, please visit: www.cpuc.ca.gov.

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