California has approved a plan to invest $7.3 billion in building bulk transmission infrastructure to support renewable energy projects in the Southwest region. The plan aims to address connection delays and will facilitate the construction of 17 GW of solar capacity, 8 GW of wind power, and numerous battery storage projects by 2030. The grid operator, CAISO, will prioritize connecting power plants in areas with high solar and wind resources, as well as storage projects near high-load centers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. The plan involves strengthening connections with neighboring states such as Arizona and Nevada to enable increased imports from solar projects in those areas. The development of upfront transmission infrastructure is expected to reduce grid interconnection delays, benefiting renewable energy developers. The plan could serve as a model for other regions in the United States facing similar challenges. The next phase of the plan may include upgrades to accommodate new offshore wind farms along California's northern coast.
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