Path 26

Path 26 is a set of three 500 kV power lines that forms Southern California Edison's (SCE) intertie with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to the north. Since PG&E's power grid and SCE's grid both have interconnections to elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest and the Southwest respectively, Path 26 is a southern extension of Path 15 and Path 66, and a crucial link between the two regions' grids.Citation|title=Paths 21-30|publisher=Western Electricity Coordinating Council|year=2006] The Path is located in the southern Central Valley of California (San Joaquin Valley), the Tehachapi and Transverse Ranges, and the High Desert area.Cite web|title=Map of Southern California's transmission system|url=http://www.energy.ca.gov/maps/transmission_lines_lower.html|accessdate=2007-09-20]

Route

;Path 26 - Vincent to MidwayThe Path, starting from the south, starts at the large Vincent substation close to State Route 14 and Soledad Pass. The same Vincent substation is linked to Path 46 and Path 61 via two SCE 500 kV lines that head southeast to Lugo substation. As for these SCE 500 kV wires, like Path 15 to the north, the three 500 kV wires are never built together for the entire length of the route. Straight from the substation, all three lines head north-northwest. The westernmost SCE 500 kV line splits away and runs west of the other two SCE 500 kV lines.Route descriptions and tower designs are based on Google Earth images.]

After crossing State Route 14, two 500 kV wires built by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADW&P) join the eastern two SCE 500 kV wires. Some point west of Palmdale, one line (SCE) continues northwest and the other three (one SCE, two LADW&P) head west. The lone SCE line continuing northwest (with 230 kV lines) runs close to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, famed for its California Poppy flowers. The one SCE line that ran west of the other two SCE lines (now separated) re-joins the single SCE 500 kV running west with the two LADW&P lines. The four 500 kV lines run together for some distance until, at some point in the mountains, the two SCE lines continue to head west and the two LADW&P lines turn southwest and head for Sylmar (close to the southern terminus of the Pacific Intertie HVDC line). The two SCE lines heading west meet up with Interstate 5 on the arid hills to the east of Pyramid Lake. The lines parallel the highway across Tejon Pass (running on the eastern foothills of Frazier Mountain) and run out of sight for a while as they cross the high woodlands of the northern mountains and foothills of the Transverse Ranges at their highest point at around 5,350 ft. (1,630 m).Google Earth elevation for GNIS coordinates.]

As for the third line, north of Lancaster and State Route 138, it runs through a remote, roadless area of the Tehachapi Mountains with two 230 kV lines. Although it runs across sparse to dense oak woodlands at around 5,300 ft. (1,615 m), it is not easy to spot it on Google Earth since its right of way is not as clear cut as Path 15 and Path 66 to the north. Due to this, the line is not readily seen again until it crosses . [Cite web|title=Picture of Midway Substation on State Route 58|url=http://www.westcoastroads.com/california/ca-058.html|publisher=WestCoastRoads.com| accessdate=2007-09-21] Two pairs of PG&E 500 kV lines heading north and southwest (separated), form Path 15.

;Connecting wires to Path 46 - Vincent to LugoAdjacent to the Path 26 wires, two other SCE 500 kV also begin in Vincent substation. The two 500 kV power lines head northeast from Vincent to meet up with LADW&P's two other 500 kV wires from and then all four lines head east. Another LADW&P line joins the four-line transmission corridor, resulting in a large path of five power lines. However, one LADW&P splits off from the other four lines and heads southeast. Soon after, the SCE lines split away from the remaining two LADW&P lines and head southeast as well. They cross the lone LADW&P line that split away and Interstate 15 as they head to Lugo substation. The lines terminate at Lugo, where one SCE Path 61 500 kV line, two SCE Path 46 500 kV lines, and three other SCE 500 kV lines end. [Citation|title=Paths 41-50|publisher=Western Electricity Coordinating Council|year=2006] [Citation|title=Paths 61-70|publisher=Western Electricity Coordinating Council|year=2006]

Power transmission capacity

The three Path 26 500 kV lines can transmit 3,700 MW of electrical power north to south. The capacity for south to north power transmission is 3,000 MW.

Gallery

References