WAPA has received an interconnection request from the Beale Air Force ​Base (AFB) to connect to WAPA's existing Cottonwood-Roseville 230-kilovolt (kV) line located in Yuba County, California. The purpose of the proposed project is to ensure that the Beale AFB electrical infrastructure will supply and effectively support the missions assigned to the installation by Congress and the President. Beale AFB needs a reliable and resilient electrical transmission system that is upgraded to satisfy current electrical standards. This need includes a redundant electrical interconnection to supply critical missions and prevent electrical failure during maintenance and/or electrical faults. 

As part of the proposed project, a 5-mile, 230-kV/60-kV interconnection would be built between WAPA's Cottonwood-Roseville transmission line and an existing substation on Beale AFB. The proposed project would also require a new substation to be located on Beale AFB to accommodate both the 230-kV and 60-kV lines. Currently, three alternative routes are being considered for the interconnection line. 

• Southern Alternative (included in January 2018 scoping)
  
• Northern A Alternative (included in January 2018 scoping)
  
• Northern B Alternative (added to the project in June 2018; included in July 2018 scoping)​
  

WAPA prepared an Environment Assessment (EA) for the project in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). WAPA and Beale AFB are joint lead agencies for the purposes of NEPA and have issued separate Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI).