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Residents warn of wildfire risk, eminent-domain threats as PUC hears Xcel’s Power Pathway appeal in El Paso County
Summary
At a Jan. 26 public comment hearing in Rush, El Paso County residents and local fire officials urged the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to deny or alter Xcel Energy’s request to build segment 5 of the Colorado Power Pathway, citing wildfire hazards, volunteer fire-department limits, property-value losses and questions about eminent domain; a smaller group of landowners supported the project.
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission took public comment Jan. 26 in Rush on Xcel Energy’s request to begin construction of segment 5 of the Colorado Power Pathway, a high-voltage transmission corridor the company says is needed to serve the Front Range. Commissioners put the hearing on the record as part of proceeding number 25A-0355E and said an evidentiary hearing is scheduled in mid-February, with a final decision expected in April.
PUC staff framed the legal question as whether construction can proceed through El Paso County despite the county’s denial of a land-use permit and said the commission must weigh statutorily prescribed factors including the need for the line, conflicts with local land-use plans, natural-hazard risks, feasible alternatives and impacts on residents. The PUC director summarized the process for filing and how public comments enter the record.
Most speakers at the Rush hearing urged the commission to reject or substantially alter Xcel’s proposal.…
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