San Diego County supervisors heard public testimony Tuesday on SDG&E's proposed $1.624 billion Golden Pacific Powerlink, a transmission project that has drawn sharp concern from rural and backcountry communities, according to East County Magazine.

The project is intended to move electricity from SDG&E's Imperial Valley Substation to a new substation near the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. East County Magazine reported that the initial route ran through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, while newer alternate maps avoid the park but raise concerns in the Palomar Mountain region.

Environmental groups, residents and some county leaders told supervisors they were concerned about wildlife corridors, wildfire risk, scenic impacts and the burden placed on rural communities. Supporters from business and energy groups argued the line is needed to improve grid capacity and move renewable energy across the region.

The Board of Supervisors did not take a final vote because the California Public Utilities Commission will decide the project route and environmental review. For Santee and East County residents, the debate matters because the same regional grid, wildfire and utility-cost questions that affect backcountry communities also shape local reliability and long-term energy planning.

SDG&E has scheduled open houses Aug. 25 in Fallbrook, Aug. 26 in Temecula, Oct. 13 in El Centro and Oct. 14 in Borrego Springs. An online open house is also expected to launch Aug. 25 at goldenpacificpowerlink.com.