Transmission Development

Colorado’s current transmission infrastructure is not adequate to meet the increasing electricity demands and the projected growth of wind and solar energy. The lack of adequate transmission represents a lost opportunity for early action to connect our vast renewable resources to the electric market while keeping Colorado’s transmission system reliable.

The Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) is actively involved in every major forum in Colorado that is addressing the transmission challenge. In 2007, GEO provided the necessary leadership to convene and complete the work of the Senate Bill 07-91 Renewable Resource Generation Development Areas Task Force. Learn more about the various forums and organizations that are working on the transmission challenge in the Regional Organizations section. Read more about the Senate Bill 07-91 Report and Task Force here.

The section details transmission projects currently underway throughout the Western Interconnection. When completed, these transmission projects will assist in connecting Colorado’s wind and solar power resources to the markets.

Proposed Transmission Expansion

• Eastern Plains Transmission Project
  The Eastern Plains Transmission Project is one of the nation’s largest proposed projects that would include about 1,000 miles of new high-voltage transmission lines and related facilities in eastern Colorado and western Kansas. It would also expand existing substations and would construct new substations. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and the Western Area Power Administration will be the developers of the joint transmission facilities, with possible participation by Public Service Company of Colorado.
  
  
• Wyoming- Colorado Intertie Transmission Project (WCIP)
  WCIP is a proposed privately funded transmission line to access resources in Wyoming with a delivery to the Public Service Company of Colorado Interconnect at the Pawnee Substation located in Morgan County, Colorado. It is currently in the planning phase. This project is a venture between the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority, Tran-Elect and the Western Area Power Administration. Commercial operations on WCIP are expected to commence in the 2012-2013 timeframe subject to state and federal regulatory approvals. For updates on the project visit the WCIP website.
  
  
• The High Plains Express
  The High Plains Express Transmission Project (HPX) is a proactive plan for the expansion and reinforcement of the transmission grid in the states of Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. The goal is to develop a high-voltage, backbone transmission system that will enhance reliability and increase access to renewable and other diverse generation resources within the region. The first phase of the HPX is a joint participation feasibility study that will explore transmission alternatives. Eight parties have initiated detailed feasibility studies, which was completed in June of 2008.
  

The Governor's Energy Office will continue to work with all of the key transmission stakeholders to overcome the financial and policy barriers to building new transmission lines which enable increased amounts of renewable energy to be transmitted on the grid.