IID Transmission Backbone
CHOKEPOINT — existing transmission capacity is the binding constraint on how much new generation can actually reach industrial load, regardless of how much power is produced.
| ID | Date | Category | Source | Confidence | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IVE-009 | 2026-02-24 | Energy | Regional infrastructure data | High | Verified | Transmission backbone capacity, not generation, is the binding constraint on how much new geothermal and solar power can reach industrial load in the near term. |
| From | Relation | To |
|---|---|---|
| Salton Sea Solar Field | Feeds | IID Transmission Backbone |
| Salton Sea Geothermal Field | Feeds | IID Transmission Backbone |
| IID Transmission Backbone | Constrains | Imperial Irrigation District (power arm) |
| IID Transmission Backbone | Constrains | Semiconductor Fabrication Site |
| IID Transmission Backbone | Constrains | Battery Materials Processing Site |
New geothermal and solar generation cannot reach industrial load faster than the transmission backbone can be upgraded — the chokepoint is transmission capacity, not generation capacity. This constrains the power arm, the semiconductor candidate site, and the battery materials candidate site simultaneously.
This entity is not a dependency of any scenario yet.
Determine the scope and cost of a transmission backbone upgrade before committing to semiconductor or battery-materials siting, since power generation alone will not resolve the constraint.
Risk Opened: Transmission Backbone Chokepoint
Transmission capacity flagged as a high-severity chokepoint constraining three downstream candidate sites simultaneously.
by Risk Analyst
Evidence Imported
Regional infrastructure data confirming transmission capacity as the binding constraint imported.
by Research Analyst
Transmission Backbone Recorded
IID Transmission Backbone recorded as a distinct entity after evidence showed it, not generation, is the binding power constraint.
by Regional Strategy Lead