Colorado’s two biggest power companies said Tuesday that they will work together to develop electrical-transmission lines in southern and eastern Colorado.
Construction of the first line by Xcel Energy and the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association could begin in 2010.
The lines would help Xcel create transmission capacity to serve areas where it is developing renewable energy sources.
The state’s largest utility is required by a 2007 law to develop construction plans to improve transmission capacity in five “energy resource zones” that have high wind-power potential but limited transmission capacity.
“The idea is to see if there are some synergies and things we can do to lower costs and benefit our customers and their customers,” said Xcel spokesman Mark Stutz.
For Tri-State, new lines would increase transmission capacity to areas of the state where it struggles to meet demand. The association’s plants are all on the Western Slope, and its ability to transmit power to customers east of the mountains is limited.
“Tri-State has been looking at major transmission improvements in southeast Colorado for several years. It makes sense for us to look at developing projects jointly,” Tri-State spokesman Lee Boughey said. “We get more bang for the buck working together.”
Under consideration are lines that would stretch from the San Luis Valley to Walsenburg and Pueblo County, then to Prowers County in southeastern Colorado, and then into eastern Colorado and the Front Range, the companies said. Neither company would say how much the transmission lines might cost if all are built.
Xcel and Tri-State are holding public meetings this week in Walsenburg, Alamosa and Blanca to discuss the potential first line, which could be completed by 2014, Boughey said.
Each project will be submitted to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission and subject to environmental assessments.
Greg Griffin: 303-954-1241 or ggriffin@denverpost.com
