Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of the proposed LS Power Grid California, LLC (LSPGC) Power Santa Clara Valley Project (Project). LSPGC filed an Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity Authorizing Construction of the Project on April 29, 2024 (Application A.24-04-017). This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA review process.
CPUC Review Process
Following receipt of a complete application, the CPUC conducts two parallel processes when considering development proposed by a regulated utility:(1) an application process, in which the CPUC reviews the utility’s proposal and considers whether the project is needed and is in the public interest; and,
(2) an environmental review process pursuant to CEQA.
The CPCN application process focuses on utility ratepayer and public benefit issues and is undertaken by the CPUC’s Administrative Law Judges Division. The CEQA process for utility applications is led by the CPUC’s Energy Division. The CPUC will use the CEQA document in conjunction with other information prepared for the CPUC’s formal record to act on LSPGC’s application.
Click here for more information about the CPUC’s decision and review process.
Click here for information and documents associated with the CPUC’s Proceeding for the Project. The proceeding schedule is managed on the docket card for the application.
Introduction and Background
LSPGC, in its CPUC application (A.24-04-017), filed on April 29, 2024, requests a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for the Construction of the
Power Santa Clara Valley Project . The CPUC conducts a thorough Environmental Review process as part of the CPCN procedure. This regulatory process evaluates whether there is a demonstrated need for a proposed utility project in the public interest. The CPUC accesses factors such as demand forecasts, environmental impacts and alternatives before granting or denying the certificate.
The Project would include two new high-voltage direct current (HVDC) terminals and associated new transmission lines. The new transmission lines would include an approximately 13-mile Grove to Skyline 320 kilovolt (kV) direct current (DC) underground transmission line connecting the southern terminal, the Grove terminal, to the northern terminal, the Skyline terminal; an approximately 100-foot overhead Skyline to San Jose B 115 kV alternating current (AC) station tie line connecting the new Skyline terminal to the existing Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) San Jose B substation; and an approximately 1.2 mile Metcalf to Grove 500 kV underground transmission line connecting the new Grove terminal to the existing PG&E Metcalf substation. The Project would be located in the City of San Jose and County of Santa Clara, California.
The application includes the Proponent’s Environmental Assessment (PEA) prepared pursuant to Rule 2.4 of the CPUC's Rules of Practice and Procedure. The Proposed Project was approved by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) to ensure the reliability of the CAISO-controlled grid. This would be accomplished through the construction of two new high-voltage direct current (HVDC) terminals and a new HVDC transmission line connecting the terminals.
As identified by LSPGC, the project would:
Environmental Review
As the CEQA Lead Agency, the CPUC will prepare an EIR to evaluate the environmental effects of the proposed project. The following table includes milestones and anticipated dates for the CEQA review process.
| Project Milestones as of November 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Milestone | Date |
| Application and PEA submitted by LSPGC to CPUC | April 29, 2024 |
| Deficiency Letter Issued by CPUC to LSPGC | May 29, 2024 |
| Application Deemed Complete by CPUC | June 27, 2024 |
| Notice of Preparation and Scoping
|
September 6, 2024 - October 7, 2024 |
| Publication of Draft EIR | 2nd Quarter 2025 | Public CEQA Review Period (45 days) | 2nd Quarter 2025 | Publication of Final EIR | 3rd/4th Quarter 2025 | CPUC Certification of Final EIR and CPUC Decision | 4th Quarter 2025 | Start of Construction | Anticipated 2026 |
EIR Scoping
Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
The CPUC has prepared a Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an EIR for the Project to solicit agency and public input on the scope of the EIR. The NOP may be viewed here. During the scoping period, beginning September 6, 2024, and ending October 7, 2024, all interested parties, including responsible and trustee agencies, groups, and the public, are invited to provide input on the scope of the EIR. The Spanish version of the NOP may be viewed here.
Scoping Meeting and Scoping Report
In order for the public and agencies to have an opportunity to submit verbal comments on the scope of the EIR, an in-person meeting was held on September 18th, 2024, which was also available via Zoom link and telephone.
The scoping meeting presentation is available for viewing here.
Documents Available for Review
Public documents related to the Proposed Project and PEA for the Power Santa Clara Valley Project can be found here:
LSPGC CPCN Application (April 29, 2024)
Proponent’s Environmental Assessment PEA (April 29, 2024)
PEA Appendix 1-A Figures
PEA Appendix 3-A Construction Equipment and Workforce Table
PEA Appendix 5.3-A Air Quality and GHG Modeling Files
PEA Appendix 5.4-A Biological Resources Technical Report
PEA Appendix 5.5-A-E Cultural Resources Technical Report (confidential not posted)
PEA Appendix 5.6-A Fuel Use Calculations
PEA Appendix 5.7-A Paleontological Resources Technical Report
PEA Appendix 5.9-A ERIS Corridor Report (HazMat)
PEA Appendix 5.9-B Hazardous Materials Sites Summary Table
PEA Appendix 5.9-C Preliminary Induction Study
PEA Appendix 5.13-A Noise Measurements
PEA Appendix 5.16-A Existing Recreational Uses Table
PEA Appendix 5.18-A Sacred Lands File Search Request and Results, Appendix B NAHC Contacts List and Appendix C Tribal Communication (confidential not posted)
PEA Appendix 5.20-A Wildfire Behavior Modeling and Hazard Assessment
PEA Appendix 7-A Cumulative Projects Table
PEA Appendix C Map of the Project
PEA Appendix G Electric and Magnetic Fields Management Plan
CPUC PEA Deficiency Letter (May 29, 2024)
CPUC PEA Completeness Letter (June 27, 2024)
For Additional Information
The CPUC, through its Environmental Review Team, is managing the environmental review of the Project. To request additional information, or to be added to the mailing list, please contact us:
Project email: PowerSCV@esassoc.com
Project phone number: (408) 450-7233
The CPUC’s Project Manager is:
Tharon Wright
California Public Utilities Commission
Infrastructure Planning and CEQ, Energy Division
300 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814
Email:
tharon.wright@cpuc.ca.gov