The California Independent System Operator’s (CAISO) Board of Governors has approved the ISO’s 2023-2024 transmission plan, recommending 26 new projects to support the addition of 85 GW of capacity by 2035. Projects include the first phase of development to bring offshore wind energy from the North Coast to the California grid.
Developed in coordination with the California Energy Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission, and the energy industry, the 2023-2024 Transmission Plan will enable critical resource development, including:
- Over 3 GW of in-state wind generation in existing wind development regions, including Tehachapi
- The import of over 5.6 GW of out-of-state wind generation from Idaho, Wyoming, and New Mexico by enhancing corridors from the ISO border in southeastern Nevada and from western Arizona into California load centres
- Over 4.7 GW of offshore wind, with 3.1 GW in the Central Coast and 1.6 GW in the North Coast area
- Over 38 GW of solar generation distributed across the state in regions including the Westlands area in the Central Valley, Tehachapi, the Kramer area in San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and in southern Nevada and western Arizona
- Over 21 GW of geothermal development, primarily in the Imperial Valley and in southern Nevada
- Access for battery storage projects co-located across the state with renewable generation projects, as well as stand-alone storage located closer to major load centres in the LA Basin, greater Bay Area, and San Diego
In another transmission-related vote, the Board approved Pattern Energy’s application to tie its 550-mile SunZia line into the California system. The line, which is currently under construction, would run between central New Mexico and south-central Arizona, with capacity to transport 3,000 MW of wind energy to California and neighbouring states.
