Elbert County Environmental Alliance
Protect and Preserve
Elbert County Environmental Alliance is working to protect our community and wildlife from Xcel’s high voltage power lines
Xcel Files Application with Elbert County
Xcel filed their formal application for their Power Pathway through Elbert County in December, 2024
Elbert County Responds to Xcel’s Application
Elbert County’s Office of Economic Development responded to Xcel’s application, finding the application incomplete in 16 out of 21 areas. Xcel now has the opportunity to resubmit with the requested information.
Speak Up!
Elbert County has new County Commissioners and Planning Commissioners. They need to hear from us. Much of the County’s response to Xcel came from citizen input.
Please attend Board of County Commissioner and Planning Commission meetings to share your concerns. Our new officials need to hear your voices!
Xcel’s Preferred Route
The high voltage lines would be placed along a 150 foot easement along the yellow, indicated route. Keep in mind that the transmission towers are 140 feet tall (that is four regular power lines on top of each other, or just 13 feet shorter than the Kiowa water tower. According to Xcel’s website, “The Eastern Plains of Colorado is one of the nation’s best areas for wind and solar. New transmission lines encourage construction of wind and solar power plants to bring more low-cost electricity to help meet the needs of our growing state” and wind and solar plants will be connected up to a 35 mile radius from the lines.
Can you fight eminent domain?
One of our members, a retired attorney, is highly confident that, because the Xcel Power Pathway is intended to meet the carbon reduction requirements of Senate Bill 19-235, (p.19, paragraph 2.00 of the Company’s 120 day report of September 18, 2023), it is subject to CRS 40-2-124 and CRS 40-2-125, which prohibits eminent domain to be used. She believes that landowners can resist Xcel’s pressure to give up an easement and they could not exercise eminent domain without coming up against this law.
While ECEA is not offering legal advice, if you own land along Xcel’s proposed route, you might want to check this out with your attorney. For more information, watch this video at the 42:32 mark.
What can YOU do?
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Attend a County Commissioner meeting on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 9:00 AM
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Contact our newly elected state officials
Share your concerns with our new commissioners and representatives
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Write, email, or call Xcel and the Public Utilities Commission
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Sign up for the Elbert County Environmental Alliance News Updates
Important to Know
The route that Xcel has posted is just their PREFERRED route - it has not yet been approved!
What this means for you. . .
If you are contacted by Xcel or their contractors because your property is along the route, you do not have to grant them access. Let them know that you are aware that the project has not yet been approved by the County.
Find up to date information
“We are going to be slathering the Eastern Plains with wind and solar.”
-PUC Commissioner John Gavan
You have a voice - share your concerns with Elbert County Commissioners, Xcel and the Public Utilities Commission.
Check out the recent news
Protect our wildlife
Bald eagles and other raptors, deer, elk, antelope, bears, badgers, mountain lions, and wild turkeys are just some of the animals whose migration and breeding patterns would be altered by the introduction of high voltage lines into their habitat.
Protect our community, way of life, and sense of place
Elbert County is filled with families who chose a rural way of life, surrounded by the beauty of our natural surroundings. High voltage lines would destroy the place we call home.
The Eastern Plains of Colorado is one of the nation’s best areas for wind and solar. New transmission lines encourage construction of wind and solar power plants to bring more low-cost electricity to help meet the needs of our growing state - Xcel’s website
No, thank you!
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