A comprehensive risk assessment identified the gap between the two substations as the most vulnerable weakness in our existing system throughout the Eagle and Gore valleys. Although HCE is the applicant, this is a partnership between HCE and Xcel Energy. Xcel Energy owns and operates the Gilman and Avon substations and HCE will own the transmission line connecting the two substations.
The current proposed 8.65-mile route leaves the Gilman substation and follows the existing Xcel Energy distribution power lines to the Eagle River and eventually to Dowd Junction on I-70, primarily staying just above the railroad tracks east of the river. Near Dowd Junction, the proposed line crosses Highway 24 and follows the existing HCE lines to the Avon substation.
Because HCE recognizes that this line will impact the viewshed of many Minturn residences and businesses, we have offered to bury 1 & ¾ miles of the line through the core of Minturn. Unfortunately, undergrounding transmission lines in our rural environment can be prohibitively expensive. An estimate of burying costs and distances follows:
HCE has also asked both the Town of Minturn and its Advisory Committee if there are other projects that HCE could help with to make the T-line feel less burdensome. Some of these ideas thus far include:
* Sunrise Powerlink Project ATTACHMENT 1A TO ALTERNATIVES …
Sunrise Powerlink Project ATTACHMENT 1A TO ALTERNATIVES SCREENING REPORT EFFECT OF WILDFIRES ON TRANSMISSION LINE RELIABILITY Draft EIR/EIS 1A-1 January 2008 Attachment 1A: Effect of Wildfires on Transmission Line Reliability Collocation of Transmission Alternatives with the Southwest Powerlink