Sunrise Powerlink: Our Connection to a Clean Energy Future
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“Southwest Strategies played a critical role in developing a targeted and effective public outreach strategy and message platform that helped us build a broad-based coalition that was instrumental in securing regulatory approvals for the Sunrise Powerlink.”
–Laura McDonald, Project Manager, Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Line, SDG&E[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”white”][vc_column_text]
Bottom Line: Southwest Strategies worked hand in hand with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) to successfully build support and secure state and federal approvals for the Sunrise Powerlink, a controversial $1.88 billion, 117-mile, 500,000-volt transmission line designed to transport renewable energy from Imperial County to San Diego.
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”2988″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_separator color=”white”][vc_column_text]Key Players
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]- California Public Utilities Commission
- U.S. Forest Service
- Bureau of Land Management
- Regional elected officials
- Communities of Imperial Valley, Campo, Boulevard, Jacumba, Alpine, Lakeside
- Labor leaders
- Local business
- Environmental groups
Our Challenge
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]SDG&E, the public utility that provides energy service to 3.6 million people in San Diego and southern California, had a big problem with its latest infrastructure project, the Sunrise Powerlink transmission line. Local stakeholders quickly organized to rally against the project, making the Sunrise Powerlink the most contentious infrastructure project in California’s history.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1466″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_column_text]Southwest Strategies was hired to help create a strategic public affairs plan that would educate stakeholders, expand regional support and ultimately secure final project approvals.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1643823133374{padding-top: 10px !important;}”]Approvals Needed:
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”CPUC” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1655144750905{padding-top: 20px !important;background-color: #b48461 !important;border-radius: 2px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”U.S. Forest Service” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1655144762315{padding-top: 20px !important;background-color: #b48461 !important;border-radius: 2px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_separator color=”white”][vc_custom_heading text=”Bureau of Land Management” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1655144790088{padding-top: 20px !important;background-color: #b48461 !important;border-radius: 2px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1643826177469{padding-top: 40px !important;}”]Opposition:
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Every major environmental group ” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1656432995137{padding-top: 20px !important;background-color: #b48461 !important;border-radius: 2px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Several communities” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1656433004607{padding-top: 20px !important;background-color: #b48461 !important;border-radius: 2px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator css=”.vc_custom_1643783241871{padding-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Our Solution
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1467″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_column_text]In July 2006, Southwest Strategies helped launch a regional support coalition called the Community Alliance for Sunrise Powerlink (CASP). Our team helped SDG&E develop a comprehensive engagement and outreach campaign that could tackle the varying stakeholder needs of the project’s large area.- Conducted news conferences and media outreach
- Launched comprehensive eblast program
- Develop a comprehensive engagement and outreach campaign
- Delivered letters of support signed by officials in varying counties
- Gained political support from major stakeholders