SILVERTHORNE — Xcel Energy identified two locations for its Ptarmigan substation to service Silverthorne — a new location on the Angler Mountain Ranch (site 8), as well as a slightly higher location near the water tower on the Daley Ranch (site 10).

Both sites, located east of Silverthorne, were named as preferred sites — for now — because Xcel is exploring a smaller substation design, using a “better-hidden” technology called a gas-insulated substation. A gas-insulated substation encloses most of the electrical equipment in a building where it's cooled by sulfur hexafluoride gas instead of the air. Xcel originally proposed using an open-air substation.

Despite showing some flexibility in terms of altering size and technology for leading substation sites, Xcel officials remained immovable on questions related to need.

“We're pretty much maxed out as far as capacity,” said Karen Stephens, an Xcel representative.

Visual impacts

According to Mark Stutz, a spokesman for Xcel, the new gas-insulated technology will provide options to minimize visual impacts in the Lower Blue's view corridor. There are many different ways to blend the exterior of the substation building with other structures, like a barn, or the surrounding landscape, he said.

Posters simulating views of the substation illustrated that it would still be visible to surrounding neighborhoods — “The idea is you see a building, not equipment,” said Rich Tiongco, an Xcel engineer.

Xcel representatives didn't speak specifically about visual impacts, size and landscaping because Stutz said nothing can be truly determined until a site is picked. It was also noted that sites on Daley and Anger Mountain ranches were presented because it's better to be closer to existing transmission lines.

When asked if lines could be placed underground, or if other measures could be taken to preserve the view corridor, Rick Thompson, an Xcel Energy supervisor for siting and land rights, said: “We're trying to minimize visual impacts as practically as we can.”

Thompson also said development — as in building homes and businesses — have already changed views in the area, and that Xcel wouldn't need to build a new substation if not for constant growth.

No site off the table

Sites shown in February on the TYL Ranch and the Daley Ranch were no longer being presented because of the new design's smaller size. But, Stutz said no site is technically off the table. Xcel has been looking at almost two dozen sites, though only a few have been presented as leading options to the public.

The new, smaller design presented Wednesday could potentially allow Xcel to plan with more flexibility. The gas-insulated substation's footprint will be 1.5 acres, Stutz said. The old footprint presented in February was 2.5 acres. That size does not include the buffer zone needed for “landscaping.”

“Assuming generally a 1.5-acre site, we would need a total of four to five acres including the buffer zone,” Stutz said. “That would be 1.5 acres secured, (and) 2.5 to 3.5 acres for the buffer area, where there could be additional landscaping work.”

So, what now? Xcel representatives said they'd review public input from Wednesday's open house and go from there.

“We will likely come up with a preferred site pending what we learned last night and then begin a permitting process with whichever jurisdiction this is located in,” Stutz said. “We might learn something from public comment that might compel us to do something else. We take public comment seriously.”

Once Xcel puts in an application with either the county or the Town of Silverthorne — Angler Mountain Ranch is located in Silverthorne and the Daley Ranch is in the county — residents would have time for public comment, said Mark Leidal, the community development director in Silverthorne.

“There's a lot of land-use processing before the substation would be approved on Angler Mountain Ranch, (including) zoning and a conditional use permit,” Leidal said. “There would be plenty of public hearings.”

Xcel has already applied to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission for approval to build from the state. Stutz also said the state can overrule a local decision.

Caitlin Row can be reached at (970) 668-4633 or at crow@summitdaily.com.

Xcel open house gathers public opinion

SILVERTHORNE — More than 100 residents visited the Silverthorne Pavilion Wednesday to walk around displays illustrating Xcel Energy's proposed substation sites, asking questions and expressing grave concerns.

Many attendees complained amongst each other that the information was confusing, and that many explanations given by Xcel representatives were vague.

‘There were quite a few people who were unhappy about the format last night,' said Mark Leidal, Silverthorne's community development director. ‘They (Xcel) should continue to hold additional community meetings on the issue to build consensus before submitting an application to the town or the county.'

However, Xcel spokesman Mark Stutz, said the energy company uses open house formats to answer questions and to gather feedback through written surveys.

Having a formal presentation with a question-and-answer session ‘just doesn't accomplish what we're trying to accomplish,' Stutz said. ‘It makes for good theater, but it doesn't allow for us to gather the information we need.'

‘These meetings are a courtesy,' he added. ‘They're not required by law.'

Public comment: Stutz also pointed out that Xcel paid attention to

comments made at the last open house in February. He said public concerns were addressed by creating the new, smaller design and by limiting additional power lines needed to connect the substation to the existing grid.

C.J. Julin, the spokesman for the Lower Blue River Citizens Alliance — a group that's against the current substation proposal — disagreed with Stutz.

Julin said Wednesday's presentation still didn't fit in with the Lower Blue Master Plan, which calls to protect view corridors in the area.

‘We want to sit down and have a true dialogue, not get pushed around

to different stations,' Julin said.

Opinions were expressed: Citizens attending the open house clamored for a formal presentation, Xcel Energy project manager Larry Claxton

compromised by holding an informal Q&A session near the end. Almost 30 people gathered around him, asking pointed questions about need, views and options.

Claxton responded to many questions. He said the TYL Ranch has ‘some difficulty associated with it,' and transmission lines couldn't be buried because of cost, feasibility and upkeep. He also said the agency is reluctant to use public land with viable private land options available.

Claxton stressed to the crowd that Xcel needs to build a substation to keep electricity service levels in the area, and that growth hadn't lessened in the last 10 years.

Residents were also met with many ‘I don't know' responses from Claxton. One frustrated man said: ‘You should know all the answers because that's your job.'

Yet another man asked Claxton ‘to integrate the community so an eyesore isn't put into our view corridor.'

‘Everyone talks about the grand views that drive our economy,' Julin said. ‘If you don't have that, you can't bring business to the county.'

Claxton concluded the Q&A session by saying: ‘I've heard that you don't like it.'

August 5, 2009 Ptarmigan Substation Public Open House