Growth
The Desert Southwest is expected to experience substantial long-term growth, creating increased demand for energy.
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The Southline Transmission Project
is being designed to minimize land and resource impacts by developing a route along existing corridors, and by upgrading existing transmission lines where feasible — an innovative approach that respects the region’s communities and natural and cultural resources.
Reliability
There are limited existing electrical connections in the area and many older lines that are approaching the end of their useful lives, raising reliability risks.
Congestion
Additional transmission capacity in the region is needed to help local utilities increase access to the most cost-efficient energy sources.
Access
Satisfying the renewable energy requirements of western states requires access to, and economic transmission of, renewable resources; a major challenge facing renewable energy development is insufficient transmission access.