Local Permitting
Before construction on Colorado’s Power Pathway can begin, several permits from local jurisdictions must be approved. These permits may include, for example, Special Use Permits, Conditional Use Permits and House Bill 1041 Areas and Activities of State Interest Permits (1041).
Land use permit applications have been approved for Segments 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the following counties:
- Cheyenne County – Conditional Use Permit, 1041 Permit
- Crowley County – Use by Special Review Permit
- Kiowa County – 1041 Permit
- Kit Carson County – Land Use Change Permit
- Morgan County – 1041 Permit
- Washington County – Use by Special Review Permit, 1041 Permit
- Weld County – Site Plan Review, Use by Special Review Permit, 1041 Permit
We will also work with counties to obtain construction-specific permits, such as road-use agreements and permits for construction laydown yards and project staging areas.
Permit Hearings
Public input opportunities are available during the land use permit process in each jurisdiction, including public hearings held by the counties or other local government agencies. Colorado’s Power Pathway permit application and public hearing notices will comply with local code requirements and may involve direct mailers to landowners along the route and/or within a specified distance, advertisements in local newspapers and/or sign postings in the area.
For more information, visit our Events page.
Other Agency Coordination
Federal and state and permits/approvals may be required prior to construction of Colorado’s Power Pathway. Any necessary construction-related authorizations, which are typically administrative in nature, will be obtained between the time local land use permits are approved and when construction begins. State approvals may include, for example, permits for road, bridge and highway crossings or road occupancy permits from the Colorado Department of Transportation, and stormwater discharge permits and Air Pollution Emissions Notice from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Federal permits may be required for construction-related impacts to wetland or waterbodies from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Colorado’s Power Pathway does not involve a federal nexus that would require development of an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act. As part of our local permitting efforts and in accordance with jurisdiction-specific requirements, we will assess the existing conditions and evaluate the anticipated impacts of the project along each segment. This evaluation will include desktop and field survey of biological and cultural resources.
Xcel Energy has met with Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff at public meetings, project meetings and workshops and has also engaged with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service regarding Colorado’s Power Pathway and will follow recommended non-disturbance buffers and construction timing restrictions to avoid or minimize impacts to special-status species. Xcel Energy is engaging with Colorado’s State Historic Preservation Office regarding Colorado’s Power Pathway and has evaluated results of previous surveys as part of our routing and siting process.