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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:

  • Ensure reliability of the South Bay sub-area of the Greater Bay Area of the CAISO-controlled grid;
  • Provide better access to cost-effective, renewable energy and other electric transmission grid benefits;
  • Support the provision of safe, reliable, and adequate electricity service to the PG&E and Silicon Valley Power (SVP) service territories;
  • Provide voltage support to the existing PG&E transmission system to support additional load growth; and
  • Facilitate the importation and use of renewable electricity to fulfill the State of California’s energy policies and goals by ensuring reliable operation of the grid.
  • 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