San Luis Valley-Calumet-Comanche Transmission Project

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association (Tri-State) and Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo), an Xcel Energy company, are jointly proposing to construct, own and operate the San Luis Valley-Calumet-Comanche transmission project. It will enable efforts for the development of 600-1,000 megawatts of renewable energy and provide for better electric reliability on both Tri State’s and PSCo’s systems. The proposed project includes the following components:

• Approximately 95 miles of new, double-circuit 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line from the existing San Luis Valley Substation, north of Alamosa, to a new Calumet Substation near Walsenburg.
• A new 230/345-kV Calumet Substation on property currently owned by Tri-State located six miles north of Walsenburg and expansion of three existing substations.
• Approximately 45 miles of new, double-circuit 345-kV transmission line between the proposed Calumet Substation and the existing Comanche Substation near Pueblo.
• Approximately six miles of new 230-kV transmission line between the proposed Calumet Substation and the existing Walsenburg Substation.
• Proposed communication facilities to support operation and maintenance of the transmission lines.

PSCo submitted the project’s Certificate of Public Convenience (CPCN) and Necessity with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission in May 2009. The project is currently in the regulatory hearing process.

Project Maps

• Route Option Maps (redirected to www.socotransmission.com)

Regulatory Documents

Note: All regulatory documents are in the Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format.

• CPCN Application
• Direct Testimony and Exhibits of Gerald M. Stellern
  • Exhibit No. GMS-1
  • Exhibit No. GMS-2
  • Exhibit No. GMS-3
  • Exhibit No. GMS-4
  • Exhibit No. GMS-5
  • Exhibit No. GMS-6
• Direct Testimony and Exhibits of Joseph C. Taylor
  • Exhibit No. JCT-1
• Direct Testimony and Exhibit of Thomas W. Green
  • Exhibit No. TWG-1
• Direct Testimony and Exhibits of Danny J. Pearson
  • Exhibit No. DJP-1
  • Exhibit No. DJP-Case 1
  • Exhibit No. DJP-Case 2
• Direct Testimony & Exhibit of Rick L. Thompson
  • Exhibit No. RLT-1
• Hyde Rebuttal Testimony
  • Exhibit No. KTH-1
  • Exhibit No. KTH-2
  • Exhibit No. KTH-3
  • Exhibit No. KTH-4
• Stellern Rebuttal Testimony
  • Exhibit No. GMS-7
  • Exhibit No. GMS-8
  • Exhibit No. GMS-9
• Green Rebuttal Testimony
  • Exhibit No. TWG-2
  • Exhibit No. TWG-3
• Thompson Rebuttal Testimony
  • Exhibit No. RLT-2
  • Exhibit No. RLT-3
  • Exhibit No. RLT-4
  • Exhibit No. RLT-5
  • Exhibit No. RLT-6
  • Exhibit No. RLT-7
  • Exhibit No. RLT-8
  • Exhibit No. RLT-9
  • Exhibit No. RLT-10
• Pearson Rebuttal Testimony
  • Exhibit No. DJP-2

Rural Utilities Service

Under the authority of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service (RUS) makes direct loans and loan guarantees to electric cooperatives to serve customers in rural areas. Tri-State plans to request financing from RUS for its portion of the San Luis Valley-Calumet-Comanche project. RUS is currently conducting an Environmental Impact Statement on the project in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

To evaluate system level alternatives that best meet the purpose and need for a project, as well as identify preliminary corridor alternatives, Tri-State has submitted Alternative Evaluation and Macro Corridor studies.