Get ready for SDG&E's Temecula open house — Wednesday, August 26

Show SDG&E that they chose to mess with the wrong city!

SDG&E Temecula Open House
Wednesday, August 26
Embassy Suites
4–7 PM

Not sure what to ask? We've compiled a Save Temecula list of questions, including some heavy-hitters from the City's provided 9-page list of questions. 👉 Jump to our curated list, by table topic — or scroll to the bottom of this page.

You can view SDG&E's information for the open houses and sign up at this link: goldenpacificpowerlink.com/connecting-with-communities

Note: disregard the number of "slots," as that is just for SDG&E's own internal tracking. Also, advance registration is not required to attend, you can just show up.

What it is

An opportunity to show SDG&E that Temecula is engaged and not backing down — wear your Save Temecula shirt or something yellow! ⭐️
There will be multiple tables with SDG&E representatives, including subject matter consultants, answering questions one-on-one.
Individuals will walk up to a table, speak with one of the reps stationed at that table, ask questions, and then rotate to the other tables.
Tables include: EMF, Wildfire, Engineering, Purpose & Needs (manned by CAISO or SDG&E reps), CEQA & NEPA Process, Land & Real Estate, Environmental Resources.
There will be an additional table where individuals can write down questions or concerns that are not represented by one of the topical tables.
It will take place in the ballroom, capacity of 250. Given the capacity, SDG&E anticipates that there may be a line to wait to enter, especially at the beginning of the event. If the room is at capacity, as people filter out of the room, they will allow more people in.
This checks the box so SDG&E can say they engaged the community in advance of their filing.

What it's not

This is not a forum with decision-makers, such as the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
SDG&E will not have to publicly answer questions in front of the community (like they did at the May 26th Temecula City Council meeting).
No signs or petitions are allowed within the ballroom.

⭐️ Don't yet have your Save Temecula shirt? We may have some merch available for cash sale at the event on a first-come, first-served basis.

Questions to ask

We've put together a bank of questions for the open house, grouped by the tables SDG&E is staffing. Open the group for the table you're standing at — you don't need to ask all of them, and a single well-aimed question that gets a "we haven't studied that" is worth more than ten they can wave off.

Wildfire Risk & Emergency Response8

1.Has SDG&E conducted a site-specific fire-behavior and aerial-suppression analysis for the Temecula Creek corridor itself, rather than relying on general regional assumptions?
2.How would firefighters conduct aerial and ground suppression within the narrow Temecula Creek corridor with energized 500 kV lines and approximately 200-foot towers overhead? What de-energization, clearance, or other delays have been modeled?
3.Has SDG&E consulted directly with CAL FIRE and Riverside County Fire about the Temecula route? Will you release their assessments, correspondence, modeling, and recommendations?
4.What happens if the 500 kV line needs to be rapidly de-energized during a wildfire? How long could de-energization and utility clearance take, and what happens if grid conditions delay that process?
5.If this line is a critical statewide energy backbone, as has been argued, how can you de-energize it every time Temecula hits Red Flag warning conditions without threatening regional grid stability?
6.SDG&E has stated that it has conducted wind studies. Will you release those studies and the wind assumptions being used to design the Temecula segment?
7.Has SDG&E evaluated the risks of constructing 500 kV infrastructure through or near the Elsinore and San Jacinto fault zones? What site-specific analysis has been conducted for ground shaking, liquefaction, fault rupture, lateral spreading, and tower or foundation failure during a major earthquake?
8.Has SDG&E modeled what would happen if one or more approximately 200 ft transmission towers collapsed during an earthquake, flood, extreme wind event, or wildfire? What impact could a collapse have on nearby homes, evacuation routes, emergency access, and firefighting operations?

EMF / Noise3

1.Has SDG&E completed site-specific EMF modeling for the homes, schools, parks, trails, businesses, and other sensitive locations nearest the Temecula route? Will you release the results?
2.What buffer distance is SDG&E using between 500 kV lines and homes, schools, parks, and other populated areas in Temecula, and how was that distance determined?
3.Has SDG&E conducted site-specific corona-noise modeling for Temecula? What audible noise levels are expected at nearby homes and other sensitive locations during rain, fog, or high-humidity conditions?

Engineering6

1.Why are detailed engineering specifications for the Temecula route still unavailable after SDG&E has spent months refining it? When will the public receive centerline coordinates, affected parcels, tower locations and heights, conductor configurations, right-of-way widths, and access-road locations?
2.What width of permanent right-of-way would SDG&E require through Temecula, and what restrictions would be placed on how that land can be used?
3.Would permanent access roads be constructed to the towers along Temecula Creek? Where would they be located, how wide would they be, and how frequently would SDG&E use them?
4.The Temecula alignment originated with the Horizon West project. What independent, site-specific engineering or field analysis has SDG&E conducted to determine that this inherited route is appropriate for Temecula?
5.If a 500 kV transmission line is built through this corridor, could the right-of-way later be used for a second circuit, additional towers, equipment, telecommunications infrastructure, or a substation? What additional approvals, environmental review, and public notification would be required?
6.What specific engineering measures are designed to prevent conductors, insulators, towers, or other equipment from failing and igniting a wildfire during extreme Santa Ana wind conditions?

Purpose, Needs & Alternatives8

1.What quantifiable reliability or capacity benefit does the Golden Pacific Powerlink provide directly to Temecula Valley residents? Is any of the electricity expected to be delivered to Temecula customers, or is Temecula primarily serving as a pass-through corridor?
2.Where is the electricity carried by the Golden Pacific Powerlink expected to originate, and where is it expected to go? Which regions and load centers are expected to receive the power?
3.Why is SDG&E considering a route through populated areas of Temecula when less-populated routes and opportunities to parallel or co-locate with existing transmission corridors exist?
4.Which opportunities to parallel, expand, or reconductor existing transmission corridors were evaluated before proposing a new 500 kV corridor? Does any portion of the Golden Pacific Powerlink utilize the existing Sunrise Powerlink right-of-way?
5.Did SDG&E or CAISO evaluate upgrading existing 230 kV transmission infrastructure to 500 kV, or otherwise increasing its capacity, instead of constructing a new greenfield 500 kV corridor? What were the results?
6.Advanced conductors can substantially increase the capacity of existing transmission infrastructure. What analysis did SDG&E conduct of advanced reconductoring technologies, including ACCC/CFCC or comparable technologies, before proposing a new corridor through Temecula?
7.What Grid-Enhancing Technologies, including Dynamic Line Rating, were evaluated to increase capacity on the existing transmission system before determining that a new 500 kV corridor was necessary?
8.Did SDG&E conduct a formal Non-Wires Alternatives analysis considering battery storage, distributed generation, microgrids, or other local energy resources that could reduce the need for new long-distance transmission? Will that analysis be released?

CEQA / NEPA Process & Public Engagement6

1.SDG&E has repeatedly said public feedback would help shape the route. What specific, material changes have been made to the Temecula segment as a direct result of community or City feedback?
2.Why did SDG&E reverse its commitment to provide robust alternatives, leaving the public with only one alternative that avoids Temecula?
3.Has SDG&E completed an MSHCP Consistency Analysis with the Riverside Conservation Authority? How would towers, access roads, grading, and vegetation removal along Temecula Creek comply with habitat-conservation requirements?
4.What consultation has SDG&E conducted with the Pechanga Band of Indians regarding impacts to ancestral and cultural resources, and how has that consultation affected the proposed route?
5.What analysis has been conducted regarding impacts to the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail and historic Vail Headquarters?
6.Will SDG&E commit to not opposing Intervenor Status or Intervenor Compensation requests from local community organizations and municipal entities seeking to participate in the CPUC proceeding?

Environmental Resources5

1.What site-specific biological and environmental studies have been completed within the Temecula Creek corridor? Will SDG&E release studies concerning sensitive species, wetlands, riparian habitat, nesting birds, and wildlife movement?
2.What impacts would tower foundations, permanent access roads, grading, staging areas, and vegetation removal have on the Temecula Creek–Santa Margarita River wildlife corridor?
3.What site-specific hydrology analysis has been conducted to determine how grading, roads, tower foundations, and vegetation removal could affect erosion, sedimentation, drainage, groundwater, and the Santa Margarita River watershed?
4.What vegetation-management practices would SDG&E use within the Temecula Creek riparian corridor? Would herbicides, pesticides, or other chemical vegetation-control methods be used, and if so, which chemicals and how frequently?
5.How much permanent and temporary disturbance to riparian habitat, wetlands, open space, and other sensitive habitat is currently anticipated along the Temecula segment?

Real Estate, Property Values & Economic Impact10

1.Has SDG&E conducted a study of how the proposed 500 kV transmission line could affect nearby residential and commercial property values and marketability? If so, will you release the study?
2.If a homeowner experiences a loss in property value because of the transmission line but SDG&E does not acquire an easement on their property, does SDG&E provide any compensation for that loss?
3.Does SDG&E's compensation framework account for impacts beyond the land physically acquired, including viewshed loss, reduced marketability, loss of use, or other impacts on neighboring properties?
4.What analysis has SDG&E conducted regarding the project's potential effects on homeowners insurance, including increased premiums, non-renewals, reduced coverage, or difficulty obtaining coverage? Will you release that analysis?
5.Has SDG&E studied how the transmission line could affect Temecula's tourism economy and its identity as a scenic destination, including wineries, hotels, restaurants, weddings, hot-air-balloon businesses, and visitor spending?
6.What property rights does SDG&E expect to acquire along the Temecula route, how wide would the easements be, and what restrictions would those easements impose on current and future property owners?
7.Does SDG&E anticipate using eminent domain or condemnation proceedings to acquire property rights necessary for the Temecula route? If so, under what circumstances?
8.If SDG&E believes this project will not materially harm nearby property values, insurance availability, or Temecula's tourism economy, what data supports that conclusion?
9.Has SDG&E consulted with the FAA and local hot-air-balloon operators about the safety effects of approximately 200-foot towers and transmission lines on balloon flight paths, landings, and emergency landings?
10.Has SDG&E consulted with Temecula Valley Hospital or the FAA about potential impacts to medical helicopters, the hospital helipad, emergency flight paths, and minimum clearances?