The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) Board of Governors has approved the Tehachapi Transmission Project.

With the official approval of this US$1.8 billion project, the starting gun has been fired for California's new energy economy. The project will accommodate 4,500MW of transmission capacity for new wind projects by 2013, with some segments coming on line as early as December 2008. The transmission project will tap wind in the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area, east of Bakersfield where 700MW of capacity is already operating and over 2,000MW of planned projects are under contract, including a recently announced 1,500MW contract with Alta Windpower Development LLC. In addition to Tehachapi wind, the transmission project lays the groundwork for the integration of large amounts of planned geothermal, solar, and wind generation in Inyo and northern San Bernardino counties.