Siting and Planning Studies
The purpose of an Alternative Evaluation (AE) and Macro Corridor Study (MCS) is to evaluate system level (point A to point B) alternatives that best meet the purpose and need for a project, as well as identify preliminary corridor alternatives.
Preliminary corridors are identified based on an evaluation of opportunities and constraints gathered from existing land use and environmental data. Preliminary corridors are typically made up of segments that are a minimum of one-mile wide and allow for flexibility in future identification of a preferred and alternative route(s), while minimizing impacts to resources.
In addition to describing the purpose and need for the project, an AE/MCS document describes the corridor identification process in more detail, including a description of identified opportunity and constraints for a project area.
The AE evaluates the system alternatives that best meet the purpose and need of the project, which is to support renewable energy development and increase electric power reliability. A number of alternatives were studied, including "no action", additional generation capacity and demand side management alternatives.
San Luis Valley to Calumet and Calumet to Walsenburg Segments
- Alternative Evaluation and Macro Corridor Study (June 2008)
- Siting Progress (January 2009)
Calumet to Comanche Segment
- Macro Corridor Study (May 2009)
San Luis Valley - Calumet - Comanche Transmission Project
- Alternative Evaluation (June 2009)
In the News
Mitchell responds to Goodart (Letter to Editor)Alamosa Courier
August 2010
Reliability key in transmission system
Denver Post
July 10, 2010
Xcel, Tri-State defend preferred San Luis Valley power line route
Pueblo Chieftain
July 11, 2010
Plans for Colorado's new-energy economy get tangled in "green tape"
Denver Post
June 27, 2010
A Slap
Pueblo Chieftain
June 12, 2010