Temecula wine and tourism leaders fight the SDG&E powerlink route

Patch: Visit Temecula Valley and the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association have issued a joint position against the proposed route for SDG&E's Golden Pacific Powerlink, the 145-mile, 500-kilovolt line slated to run on towers up to 190 feet through Southwest Riverside County. The route would cross corridors near State Route 79 South, Vail Lake, Galway Downs, and Temecula Parkway at Temecula Creek.

The two groups tie their opposition to tourism, agriculture, and wildfire risk, calling the path a threat to wine country's rural character and scenic draw. "We strongly urge SDG&E and state decision-makers to pursue alternative routes," said TVWA board president Mike Rennie. The project remains in early planning and environmental review, subject to CPUC approval, with completion targeted for 2032.