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Landowner Information

The California Gateway Connector Projects are in early planning phases. We know many landowners with property near the proposed projects have questions, and we want to answer them with the most current information.

This page includes the project status and what notification and engagement opportunities landowners can expect as the project moves forward.

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Where the projects stand today

CalGrid was selected by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) in 2025 to develop the California Gateway Connector Projects, with an expected in-service date of 2034.

Planning for the projects is currently ongoing, with construction not expected to begin until the 2030s.

In the coming months, CalGrid will be performing studies, evaluating potential project routes, seeking input from a variety of stakeholders, and making refinements, all before environmental review, which is expected to last several years.

Anticipated Project Timeline

 

2025

CAISO selects CalGrid as approved project sponsor

2026 - 2030

Stakeholder engagement & environmental review processes

2027

Community Open Houses

2031

Projected start of construction

2034

Target operation date

About the project route

No final project routes have been determined.

CalGrid is currently studying potential project corridors which will continue to be refined based on technical studies, environmental considerations, landowner and community input, and the regulatory review process.

You can view the current, preliminary study areas in the maps below. 

Please note the maps reflect preliminary study areas and do not represent final project routes.

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California Valley Connector

The California Valley Connector is an approximately 275-mile, 500 kV transmission line connecting the North Coast to California’s Central Valley and Bay Area. This project includes a new 500/115 kV substation in Humboldt County.

By expanding transmission capacity from Humboldt County through the Sacramento Valley to Solano County, this project reduces congestion on the existing system, improves grid capacity during peak demand and extreme weather, and supports the delivery of affordable electricity to population centers across the state.

CalGridMap_VersionCVC

California Ridge Connector

The California Ridge Connector strengthens electric grid capacity in Northern California by adding 140 miles of 500 kV transmission between Humboldt and Shasta counties.

Communities in this region rely heavily on aging, lower-voltage infrastructure that is more susceptible to outages. This project improves redundancy, reduces the risk of extended outages, and strengthens connections for rural and inland communities.

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Projects at a glance

500 kV
2 transmission lines and 1 substation
~415+
line miles
2034
in-service date

Transmission upgrades reinforce Northern California's electric grid and enable the delivery of clean power across the region

Project benefits

Grid resiliency

Increase capacity, improve network diversity through multiple transmission paths, and enable access to geographically diverse energy resources

Economic and community benefits

$2.4 billion in total economic infusions and 1,500+ jobs

Energy resource integration

Unlocks access to diverse, large-scale energy resources while supporting California's growing energy needs

Cost management for customers

Supports prudent cost management through competitive project selection, cost containment commitments, and project oversight

Public review and opportunities for participation

CalGrid is planning to host public open houses along the project route, tentatively planned for 2027.

The project will also undergo a public review led by the permitting authority, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), including environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This process includes public meetings and formal comment periods.

No formal comment periods are open at this time, but they will be added to our website when announced. Stakeholders will be notified via our newsletter, which you can subscribe to below for information on public engagement opportunities as well as other project updates and milestones.

How landowners will be notified

CalGrid is working with landowner engagement consultants who will be assisting landowners on topics including surveying, easement documents, property access, compensation, construction, and restoration.

If you would like to be connected, please reach out to us at info@cagatewayconnector.com.

Stay up-to-date on the California Gateway Connector Projects