Curbing it at the Source: Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project—Segments 4-11

The Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project, Segments 4-11 is a series of new and upgraded transmission facilities from 69 kV to 500 kV equaling 250 miles (spanning an area of approximately 173 miles) with an estimated cost of $2.1 billion. Once complete, the project will deliver electricity from renewable wind energy generators in Kern County south through Los Angeles County and east to the existing Mira Loma Substation in Ontario, San Bernardino County. Virtually all transmission line materials were procured by SCE. Burns & McDonnell, operating in the role of Owner's Engineer was tasked with managing the material inspection contractor, Bureau Veritas, and their efforts at the suppliers' facility. This included inspections occurring simultaneously throughout the U.S. and into Mexico, Canada, and China on a very high-profile project. The paper will focus on the lessons learned and how the TRTP project benefited from transmission line material supplier inspections throughout the fabrication process.