We need to prepare now for a future with more sustainable, clean energy and much less use of carbon-emitting fuels. California’s commitment to a zero-carbon electric system by 2045 is an aggressive goal. And under Mayor Garcetti, the City of Los Angeles is leading with specific targets for zero-emissions transportation, zero-carbon buildings, and zero-carbon electricity.
Widespread transformations in how we generate, transmit, use and store power are ahead and TRED is pleased to take part in creating the solutions that we need. We are focused on efficient, affordable and environmentally smart ways to generate clean power, and how to move and store it, to ensure we all have Clean Power Where We Need It.
ABOUT US
Three Rivers Energy Development LLC (TRED) is a clean energy and transmission development company actively developing projects in California.
TRED’s founders have extensive electric transmission development and operation experience including developing a new California electric transmission line. Not too many years ago, Californians had to go without electricity when rolling black outs hit the economy and consumers suffered in the dark. The nation’s first independent electric company, Trans-Elect, joined with PG&E and the Federal Government to build a new transmission line to open the flow of electricity. Now two of the founders of Trans-Elect, Bob Mitchell and Marty Walicki, along with Ken Epp, Eli Farrah and Markian Melnyk are working to help California reach its 100% renewable energy goal.
TRED is in early stage development of two high-capacity transmission systems designed to serve the Los Angeles area. The projects advance California’s commitment to a zero-carbon electric system by 2045 and aggressive commitments by the City of Los Angeles to:
A zero-emissions transportation network including more electric car chargers and zero-carbon new buildings, and
Zero-carbon electricity with 80% clean energy by 2036 and 100% renewable energy by 2045.
Connected to existing strong transmission lines at the Diablo Canyon substation, TRED’s projects use high-capacity circuits on the seabed to traverse almost the entire route to coastal substations in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Short cable segments on land are installed underground. Submarine and buried land cables will not trigger wildfires. In addition, the additional capacity provided by TRED’s projects gives utilities important operating flexibility to temporarily shut down land-based lines to reduce wildfire danger.
Power without Pollution
TRED’s projects use advanced HVDC transmission technology. They can reliably deliver power to the LA Basin where old, polluting natural-gas fired generation is located.
Today, many of these plants are needed for reliability. Our projects will allow many of the old fossil-fueled generators to close and allow long-burdened communities to breath easier.
Cost and Timing
At about $2 billion each, these transmission projects are significant investments. But they are a good value for ratepayers. The transmission projects save money for ratepayers by reducing:
The cost of maintaining old gas plants for reliability purposes
The cost of significant transmission upgrades in Los Angeles that will otherwise be required when in-basin power plants are retired
The projects could be in service in 2027-2029, given timely regulatory approvals.
Submarine Transmission
Realistic Solutions
Moving to a zero-carbon future is an achievable challenge. It means moving away from fossil-fueled power generation and transportation. At the same time, a wide variety of renewable resources need to be brought on line to serve the existing electrical load and new transportation load.
Transmission is the glue that holds our sustainable future together. Transmission throughout California’s renewable resource-rich areas and throughout the western region can gather renewable power and connect it to the grid serving the western region. Think of this as our “interstate power highway”.
Several Los Angeles neighborhoods are burdened by polluting fossil-fueled power plants. It’s a burden that typically falls on the poor and people of color and it has health consequences, including increased rates of asthma, heart disease and other ailments.
