Andrea McKenna • May 27, 2026

Protecting Anza-Borrego from the Golden Pacific Powerlink

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Public Input Opportunity


The Golden Pacific Powerlink is a proposed 500-kilovolt transmission line being developed by SDG&E. The project would run from the Imperial Valley Substation in southern Imperial County to the border of San Diego and Orange Counties, near the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.


Current route materials indicate that the line could pass through or near Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, raising concerns about potential impacts to wilderness areas, cultural resources, wildlife habitat, scenic views, dark skies, and sensitive desert landscapes.


SDG&E released a proposed route map on April 13, 2026, and stakeholder feedback is being accepted through early November 2026. A formal CPUC application is expected later, followed by state and federal environmental review.

This is an important time for residents, visitors, conservation groups, tribal representatives, ratepayers, and other stakeholders to review the proposal and share informed feedback.


The project has been described as important for grid reliability, clean energy integration, and reducing transmission congestion across Southern California’s electrical system. At the same time, many community and conservation stakeholders are asking whether the current route can avoid unnecessary harm to one of California’s most significant state parks.


A 500 kV transmission line is major infrastructure. The towers required for this type of line can be far taller and more visually prominent than the existing 69 kV line currently within the Park. That older line was built before the Park was established and before modern environmental review laws such as CEQA existed.


The Anza-Borrego Foundation is encouraging the public to learn more, review available materials, and participate in the feedback process.


Source: Information summarized from the Anza-Borrego Foundation’s “Park Threat” page: https://theabf.org/park-threat/


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