SCH Number 2024040144

Project Info

Title

McCullough-Victorville Lines 1 and 2 Upgrade Project

Description

McCullough-Victorville (MCC-VIC) Transmission Lines 1 and 2 are two existing 500 kilovolt (kV) electrical power lines which run parallel to each other and are supported on approximately 1,740 single-circuit towers and spanning over 160 miles from McCullough Switching Station in Nevada, through several mountain ranges, into the Mojave Desert and ending at the Victorville Switching Station in California. The proposed project would upgrade the McCullough-Victorville Transmission Lines 1 and 2 circuits to newly rate them as 570kV at 2500 Amperes (A)/3000A from their current rating of 500kV at 1600A/2400A. The upgrade of the existing McCullough-Victorville Transmission Lines would provide critical transmission capacity and is required to accommodate incoming renewable energy resources along the west of Colorado River Path 46 transmission corridor to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the lines. This proposed project supports LADWP’s goal to transition to a clean energy future, with ongoing efforts to transition from coal to renewable energy, influenced by Los Angeles City Council’s vote in 2021 to commit to 100% carbon-free energy. The additional 475 megawatts (MW) would contribute over 15% towards LADWP’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) as part of LADWP’s commitment to be 100% carbon-free by 2035, 10 years ahead of the State’s target. The Project would consist of modifications and/or replacement of existing insulators and hardware assemblies, raising existing transmission towers as needed to mitigate any ground clearance violations, replacing towers as needed within the footprints of existing tower sites, repairing or replacing damaged structural members, replacing conductors, ground wire, and re-tensioning conductors, repairing/retrofitting existing main access roads and spur roads, and replacing or reinforcing tower foundations where needed. Construction of the Proposed Project is anticipated to begin in mid-2026 and continue through 2028. The upgraded transmission lines are anticipated to be fully operational by the end of 2028.

2 documents in project