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: [email protected]
• 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
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