Xcel Energy receives key approvals for Colorado’s Power Pathway project
Xcel Energy has received land use permit approvals in five counties for approximately 300 miles of its proposed Colorado’s Power Pathway transmission project route. The approvals mark a critical step toward project construction, which the company expects to begin this year.
Partnering with local communities to identify and build the best possible projects will positively serve landowners and customers alike. Project team members held more than 40 public meetings and town halls between June 2021 and August 2022 and nearly 2,500 people attended.
“There has been great effort by the whole team to reach this significant milestone,” said Heather Brickey, Colorado’s Power Pathway project director. “We’re very excited to move into the next phase. I really appreciate all the hard work and support from everyone involved.”
Colorado’s Power Pathway is a $1.7-2 billion investment by Xcel Energy to build approximately 610 miles of 345 kilovolt transmission infrastructure to increase electric reliability on the Front Range and in eastern Colorado. When complete, Colorado’s Power Pathway will enable approximately 5,500 megawatts of new wind, solar and other resources planned in Colorado through 2030. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission approved the project in June 2022. Colorado’s Power Pathway furthers Xcel Energy’s goal of reducing carbon emissions in Colorado 85% by 2030 and will provide clean, low-cost energy to all Coloradoans.
The next step in the project is to secure construction-specific permits, such as road use agreements, environmental permits and permits for grading, access and project staging areas. Xcel Energy plans to begin construction on the approved segments in 2023, once it secures the land rights and has those permits in hand.
Xcel Energy selected Quanta Services, Inc. as its prime contractor to manage all construction activities for Colorado’s Power Pathway. The company expects to begin staged operations of Colorado’s Power Pathway in 2025 and be fully in-serviced in 2027.