ABF opposes new powerlink through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

By Miriam Raftery

www.eastcountymagazine.org

(Borrego Springs) – “California’s largest state park — and one of the last true wild places in Southern California — could face one of the biggest industrial threats in its history,” states a website set up by the Anza-Borrego Foundation at https://theabf.org/park-threat/ . “A proposed 500-kV transmission line, the Golden Pacific Powerlink, could cut through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park— impacting wilderness, wildlife habitat, scenic landscapes, dark skies, and cultural resources.”

SDG&E released a proposed route map on April 13, 2026 and is accepting stakeholder feedback through early November 2026. You can learn more about what’s at stake, and how you can help defend the park, at the ABF’s site. Below are details. 

As ECM previously reported, including an interview with SDG&E’s manager for the project, the California Independent Systems Operator (CAISO) has identified the high-voltage line as necessary to meet the state’s future electrical needs. The line would begin at the Imperial County substation and end at a new substation to be built in Orange County. SDG&E’s proposed route would cut through the heart of California’s largest state park before traveling northeast along State Route 79 in the Warner Springs and Santa Ysabel areas, then into Riverside and Orange Counties.

A 500 kV line is the highest-voltage class of transmission infrastructure built in California. The towers required to carry these lines can stand 150 to 200 feet tall, the height of a 15- to 20-story building with a cleared right-of-way stretching hundreds of feet wide.

According to the ABF, “For context, the only existing transmission line within the Park today is a 69 kV line on modest wooden poles, barely visible against the landscape. That line was constructed before the Park was established in 1933 and before the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) existed (1970) — it would not be permitted today.”

The cost of the line is an estimated $2.3 billion.

Strong opposition to another SDG&E high voltage line, Sunrise Powerlink, led to rerouting of that line, which was also originally proposed to go through the state park.

What you can do

The ABF’s website recommends several actions for those concerned about the proposed route at  https://theabf.org/take-action/

Right Now: Stakeholder Feedback Period (Through Early November 2026)

Your participation now helps ensure stakeholders who care about the Park are part of the conversation before the project is formally submitted.

• Make a Donation: This work is costly and ABF needs your support to ensure we can continue to engage.

• Attend an In-Person Open House: SDG&E will hold in-person community meetings later in 2026. Specific dates and locations will be announced. Show up and ask questions about impacts to the Park. Sign up here for updates

• Submit Stakeholder Feedback to SDG&E: Email the project team at GoldenPacific@sdge.com to share your input on the proposed route and raise questions about project impacts and the clean energy commitment (download letter template here).

• Stay Informed: Sign up for email updates to receive the latest news on the project timeline, public meetings, and opportunities for engagement.

• Spread the Word: Share this page. Talk to your friends, family, and community. The more people who understand what is being proposed, the more informed the process becomes. Download our “Not Through Our Park” graphics to share and use on your social media profile. 

After the CPUC Application Is Filed (Expected Fall/Winter 2026)

Once SDG&E submits its application, the project enters formal regulatory review. This is when the rigorous environmental and public review process begins under CEQA and NEPA, with multiple opportunities for public participation.

• Submit Written Comments to the CPUC: Email the CPUC at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov or use the online Docket Card to submit your comments on the record. We will keep you informed when and how to do this when the time comes. 
• File a Formal Protest: Within 30 days of the application filing, anyone can file a formal protest with the CPUC.
• Attend Public Participation Hearings:  The CPUC will hold hearings where members of the public can speak directly to the decision-makers reviewing this project. Your testimony becomes part of the official record.
• Contact Your Representatives: Share your concerns about this project with your state legislators and the Governor’s office (download letter template here). Help them understand what Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is, why it matters, and what is being proposed — so that the significance of this landscape is well understood as the project moves through the regulatory process in the months ahead.
• Find your State Senate and Assembly representatives here. 
• Find your San Diego County Supervisor here. 
• Find your Riverside County Supervisor here.
• Email Governor Gavin Newsom here.

For questions or to get involved or volunteer, contact Anza-Borrego Foundation at info@theabf.org.

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