On Thursday the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners will consider issuing permits for one leg of a 550-mile power transmission project that has faced pushback from Eastern Plains landowners and neighboring Elbert County. 

Utilities company Xcel wants permitting for its $1.7 billion project called Colorado’s Power Pathway, which would place high voltage powerlines to transmit wind and solar energy north to the Denver metropolitan area. Parts of the line are already in place or under construction, while the segment running through El Paso, Arapahoe and Elbert counties into Denver is still undergoing approvals. 

The El Paso County section runs along the eastern edge of the county for 45 miles, close to communities like Rush and Yoder. The area is predominantly used for ranching and agriculture, with significant wind and solar projects already in place. 

Controversy arose last month when the project went to the Elbert County commissioners for permit approval, which was rejected 3-0. Commissioners there disapproved of alleged tactics by Xcel with landowners. 

“It certainly feels like the cart was put before the horse,” said commissioner Dallas Schroeder, claiming that threats to condemn land for the project seemed premature prior to the permit decision. 

Concerns were also raised at the meeting about how the energy provider would tackle wildland fire danger. 

Xcel representatives say in submitted project materials that the project is vital for meeting the state’s clean energy goals and increasing transmission capacity.

As of June 17, county documents say that of the 64 private properties impacted in El Paso County, Xcel anticipates filing condemnation proceedings on six. The other 58 landowners have agreed to terms for project easements. 

At an El Paso County commissioners meeting on July 8, a handful of Eastern Plains landowners attended to speak against the project. 

“The people who live out there, we’re not getting anything out of this,” said Braden Watson at the meeting. 

The Thursday hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the Centennial Hall auditorium in Colorado Springs. 

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