The California Independent System Operator board of governors has unanimously approved $88.6 million in upgrades to transmission lines and equipment in Sonoma and Napa counties.

These projects, among 45 statewide initiatives, are crucial for preventing forecasted overloads in specific segments of the grid. The local projects include replacing 115,000-volt lines between the Fulton and Lakeville substations in north Santa Rosa and south Petaluma, as well as swapping out the 60,000-volt lines and certain equipment between the Tulucay and Basalt substations in southern Napa Valley.

The overall estimated cost for the slate of transmission system upgrades across California amounts to $7.13 billion. These initiatives are part of the grid operator's 2022-2023 transmission plan, which aims to ensure grid reliability and accommodate the future electrification of transportation and buildings. The projects will undergo competitive construction bidding, with coordination of sites and line routes managed by the California Public Utilities Commission. These upgrades are critical for enhancing the grid's capacity and maintaining a reliable power distribution system in Sonoma and Napa counties and throughout California.

Source: orthbaybusinessjournal.com