Gilman Line

Gilman to Avon Transmission Line

To ensure reliable service for years to come, Holy Cross Energy (HCE) is developing a new 115-kV transmission line connecting the Xcel Energy-owned Gilman and Avon substations. The line will strengthen the resilience and reliability of electrical service for the Upper Eagle River and Gore Creek Valleys.

Need

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.

Route

The current proposed 8.9-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 Eagle River. Near Dowd Junction, the proposed line crosses Highway 24 and follows the existing HCE lines to the Avon substation.

Project Permitting Status

Updated August 2026

COMPLETE
  • National Environmental Policy Act Review
  • U.S. Forest Service Approval
IN PROGRESS
  • Survey & Land Valuation
  • Private Easement & Offer Letters
  • State Land Board Permitting
  • Eagle County Permitting
BEGINNING SOON
  • Minturn Town Permitting (1041)
  • Railroad Permitting
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process is an environmental review framework that federal agencies must follow to evaluate the environmental, social, and economic impacts of a proposed project.  A NEPA analysis is required whenever a project involves a “major federal action,” which most commonly means the project uses federal funding, requires a federal permit, or takes place on federal land.

Undergrounding

Because HCE recognizes that this line will impact the viewshed of many Minturn residences and businesses, we have offered to bury 4.1 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:

  • $22M (1 & ¾ mile underground)
  • $29M (3 miles underground)
  • $40M (5 miles underground)
Line and Poles
The typical pole height would range 40’ to 65’ above ground level. On occasion some poles may be 70’ in height depending on the terrain. The pole color will blend with the surrounding landscape. Typically, there are four cables strung from pole to pole.
Right of Way
Typical right of way for this voltage and structure type is between 50’ and 100’ depending on the terrain, structure height and span length. Trees that could collide with the conductor lines and poles will be removed to address safety issues and fire hazards. Shrubs, forbs and grasses will remain. The edges of the right of way will be “feathered” to reduce the straight edge visual appearance.
Public Concerns
  • Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) – EMFs are present anytime electricity is being used. Common household appliances, as well as electronics all emit some level of EMF.  The level of EMF drops drastically with distance.  Therefore, the level of measurable EMF is typically much greater in the home due to the proximity of EMF sources, than the exposure to distribution or transmission lines.
  • Fire risk – Transmission lines are constructed to higher standards for reliability and resilience than distribution lines. They do not have additional equipment installed on them (voltage transformers, etc.), so they are a very clean structure with few parts to spark, fail or malfunction.  Because transmission lines required greater clearance above the ground, the poles are typically taller and thus farther from fuel sources.
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