NORTHERN COLORADOAREA PLAN AULT TO CLOVERLY

TRANSMISSION PROJECT

PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE 3June 11 and 17, 2020

Introduction

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Presenters

Rita RudermanXcel EnergySenior Agent – Siting and Land Rights

Kyle LennonXcel EnergySiting and Land Rights Agent

Keanan Harrold, PEXcel EnergySenior Engineer*Contractor

Jonathan UrrutiaXcel EnergyTransmission Project Manager

Mike Doyle, AICP, PLAPOWER Engineers, Inc.Senior Project Manager*Contractor

Cindy SmithPOWER Engineers, Inc.Public Outreach Director*Contractor

Lucas McConnellXcel EnergyCommunity and Local Government Affairs

Meeting ParticipationR

Open House #3 dates and times:• Thursday, June 11: 6 to 7 p.m. (in English); 7 to 8 p.m. (in Spanish)• Wednesday, June 17: 5 to 6 p.m. (in English); 6 to 7 p.m. (in Spanish)

Presentation 30 minutes; questions and answers 30 minutes• Submit a question by pressing *3 on phone• If streaming online, you can type in and submit questions below the

streaming player• Submit written comments by filling out the comment form on website or

the comment form sent with recent newsletter

Make an appointment on the project website to speak with Xcel Energy representatives

Meeting Agenda•Review efforts since January Open House #2 • Review community comments• Review process of screening and comparing:

• Preliminary transmission-line route alternatives• Preliminary substation sites

• Review: • Level 1 route comparison results• Level 2 route comparison results

• Next steps• Questions and answers

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Project Background

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This project is part of the larger Northern Colorado Area Plan that will:

Modernize the system with higher-voltage transmission facilities; benefits include:

• Increased ability to serve existing and future customers

• Increased electric service reliability

• Meet growing and changing energy needs

Purpose and Need

Siting Study Process

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Siting and Routing Process

Review and Refine Goals and Objectives

Review and Refine Study

Area

Community Engagement

Existing TransmissionLines Identify Siting Opportunities Composite Environmental and Engineering Opportunities and

Constraints Map

Other Linear Siting Opportunities

Jurisdiction and Land Ownership

Land Use Resources Land Use Sensitivity

Composite Environmental and Engineering Sensitivity

Visual Resource Sensitivity

Biological Sensitivity

Cultural Sensitivity

Engineering and Construction Sensitivity

Visual Resources

Biological Resources

Cultural Resources

Physiography/Geohazards

• Community Leader Briefings• Community WorkingGroup

Meeting #1• Open House #1

• Community WorkingGroup Meeting #2

• Open House #2

• Community WorkingGroup Meeting #3

• Open House #3• Community WorkingGroup

Meeting #4

• Existing TransmissionLines• Designated/Proposed Utility

Corridors• Other Major Linear Facilities

• Identify Preliminary Routes• Identify Preliminary Substation

Siting Areas

• Summary ComparisonTable• Finalize Alternative Routes and

Substation SitingAreas

• Weld County 1041 Permit

• Other Permits• Environmental

Compliance

ALTERNATIVE SITES AND ROUTES

COMPARISON, RANKING, AND SELECTION

PERMITTINGALTERNATIVE SITES

AND ROUTES IDENTIFICATION

OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS SENSITIVITY

ANALYSISDATA COLLECTION

We Are Here

Public Response

Open House #1 – November 13, 2019• Attendance: 71• Comments received during and after open house: 167

Open House #2 – January 28, 2020• Attendance: 144 signed in (likely 170 attended)• Comments received during and after open house: 96

Website visits: since Nov 2019: 803; since Jan Open House #2: 577

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Summary of Public CommentsCategories of comments received:

• Property impacts• Health and safety• Visual and aesthetic concerns• Proximity to residences• Noise• Need for project• Environmental concerns• Routing suggestions

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Preliminary Route Alternatives and Substation Sites

•Minimize areas of high sensitivity; maximize areas of opportunity or low sensitivity

•Preliminary Route Alternatives•Locate along county roads or ½-mile section lines•Avoid bisecting agricultural fields and oil and gas operations•Parallel existing linear features – Highway 85, canals, railroad, 44kV lines

•Preliminary Substation Sites•Approximate 10 acre parcel size•Compatible land use – agricultural land, undeveloped or industrial property•Adjacent to a road•Avoid 100-year floodplain•Within substation target area

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Preliminary Substation Sites

• Initial list of sites compiled

• Xcel Energy land agent contacted property owners to discuss purchase options

• 4 viable sites identified

Comparison and Screening Process

•Assist in the decision process by narrowing down routes and making decisions based on local issues

•Establish a framework to organize complete routes connected to substation sites

•Provide a systematic and transparent rationale for route comparison, and preferred route and substation site selection

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Comparison and Screening Process cont’d

Approach:• Organize routes into groups of alternatives based on location, common endpoints, linear features, and substation sites

• Compare and rank the alternatives based on public input, environmental criteria, and engineering criteria

• Two levels:• Level 1 Screening – compare local areas• Level 2 Screening – compare subregional areas based on community issues, engineering costs, and other qualitative factors

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Siting Study Results to Date

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Groupings of Alternative RoutesR

North:• Husky to Eaton West• Husky to Eaton North• Husky to Eaton East

South:• Eaton West to Cloverly• Eaton East to Cloverly• Eaton North to Cloverly

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Level 1 Screening

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Level 2 ScreeningR

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Substation ScreeningR

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Xcel Energy’s Decision Factors

Next Steps

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Next Steps• Public Open House #3 – virtual town-hall style meeting online

• June 11, 2020: 6 to 7 p.m. (in English); 7 to 8 p.m. (in Spanish) (online and posted to project website)

• June 17, 2020: 5 to 6 p.m. (in English); 6 to 7 p.m. (in Spanish) (online and posted to project website)

• Question and answer session following each presentation• Community members can request individual meeting appointments with Xcel staff to discuss project between June 11 and June 26 - held via phone or web-based meeting

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• Project website: www.xcelenergynortherncoloradoareaplan.com

• Mailers (announcements, bulletins, newsletters)

• Telephone information line: 888.678.7640

• Email address: northerncolorado@xcelenergy.com

• Comments requested by June 26, 2020

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Public Outreach and Engagement

• Open House #3 (virtual meetings) June 11 and 17, 2020• CWG Meeting #4 July 2020• Xcel submits permit application

to Weld County September 2020• Planning and Zoning Commission

Hearing November 2020• Board of County Commissioners

Hearing and decision January 2021

Depending on location of route and substation site, permits with Town of Eaton and Town of Ault also may need to be filed in September/October timeframe

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Schedule

Comments/Comments

Questions/CommentsR

NORTHERN COLORADOAREA PLAN AULT TO CLOVERLY

TRANSMISSION PROJECT

PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE 3June 11 and 17, 2020