Sept. 14, 2022 the Elbert County Commissioners voted to approve revised 1041 Zoning Regulations which govern projects of state interest, including power lines and wind and solar facilities. Key revisions include:

*For new transmission lines and wind energy generation facilities and turbine instillations, existing easements shall be used to the extent possible and expansion of existing easements is preferable to acquiring new easements.

*Increasing setbacks for wind projects to 2000 feet instead of 1320 feet.

Final Draft - 1041 Regulations

Xcel submitted an application to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission in March 2021. As of April, 21, 2022, it has only received verbal approval. Their application contains some interesting information.

Verified application
Letter YOU can send to the PUC

PUC Contact Information

A summary of what was learned at the March Xcel Open House in Kiowa by Kindra Snow-McGregor. Very enlightening!

Xcel Open House Summary

This list of concerns, raised by our members, can be used when writing or talking with legislators or when submitting public comments to Xcel.

ECEA List of Concerns

This article describes the true cost of so called “sustainable energy” generation.

Unsustainable Sustainable Power Generation

This is very well done documentary that exposes the dirty truth behind wind energy. The perspective is excellent and the parallels to what is beginning to happen in Elbert and El Paso Counties are scary!

Headwind “21

Xcel will need to acquire landowners’ property rights in order to put in their power lines. “This type of agreement will have a long term effect on you, your land, and future generations.” This is a checklist for landowners to consider before signing away their property rights.

Transmission Checklist

This bill has recently passed the House and Senate. Allows transmission providers to enter into contracts with public entities or private landowners to construct and maintain public recreational trails (powerline trails) covering a tract of land where transmission lines are or will be constructed (transmission corridor)

House Bill 22-1104

This bill HAS passed. It creates the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority as an independent special purpose authority with the power to Identify and establish intrastate electric transmission corridors; coordinate with other entities to establish interstate electric transmission corridors; and exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire eligible facilities.

SB-21-072