GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.—Xcel Energy is wrapping up $7 million worth of improvements in its electrical service to the Grand Junction airport and nearby businesses after more than a dozen failures since 2005.
The utility says the existing underground feeder system is plagued by corrosion from acidic soil and burdened by growing demand.
The new cables are triple the size of the old ones, allowing them to carry more electricity. They’re also sheathed in thick polymer rubber.
Xcel says the new system has a 50-year life expectancy. The four-year project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The feeder system serves about 1,000 meters, many of them at major operations such as Grand Junction Regional Airport, hotels and office buildings.
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Information from: The Daily Sentinel,
