Golden Pacific Powerlink Sparks Wildfire Debate | San Diego News

San Diego Gas & Electric is pushing forward with the Golden Pacific Powerlink — a 145-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line from Imperial Valley to Orange County — to meet California’s soaring energy demands driven by EVs and electrification. But residents in fire-prone areas like Fallbrook and Warner Springs are sounding alarms, fearing increased wildfire risk, potential eminent domain, and higher insurance costs. While SDG&E boasts its wildfire mitigation efforts — steel poles, upgraded conductors, AI forecasting — critics push for alternatives like underground lines or local solar generation to avoid risky corridors. With construction possibly starting in 2029 and operation by 2032, regulators will weigh environmental and community concerns before approving this critical — yet controversial — infrastructure project. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/bd48e188eed4d2c7