The Imperial Irrigation District, a California public power utility, recently detailed how it will deploy $38 million to enhance energy infrastructure and resiliency in the eastern Coachella Valley, it said on May 3.
The Coachella Valley Energy Resilience Initiative is supported by a newly adopted board policy that reinforces asset management and reliability standards.
The funding, two-thirds of it from federal grants secured by IID, will be strategically invested in three key projects.
K-Line Transmission Hardening Project ($31.8 million)
Spanning 60 miles, the K sub-transmission line is crucial for maintaining a consistent power supply, especially to the economically disadvantaged communities of Mecca, North Shore, and Bombay Beach, IID said.
“Redesigning and strengthening this line are proactive steps toward enhancing reliability and protecting against increasingly severe weather events near the Salton Sea,” the utility said.
A significant $23.8 million of the project’s funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, covering 70 percent of the total cost, with the remainder funded by IID.
The project, endorsed and supported in the selective application process by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.), and California Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, is expected to be completed within three years.
Mecca/North Shore Energy Infrastructure Project ($2.4 million)
Recently announced by the Department of Energy, IID secured $1.2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for the Mecca/North Shore Energy Infrastructure Project, matched by an additional $1.2 million from IID.
The investments will fund targeted infrastructure improvements to enhance service reliability in Mecca and North Shore communities.
Portable Generators Acquisition ($3.9 million)
To ensure continuous power during emergencies, IID has allocated $3.9 million to acquire two shipping container-sized portable generators, which will be deployed as appropriate during extreme weather events and natural disasters.
