Raptors have some of the most dangerous attributes in the animal kingdom.

Falcons can see a mouse’s whiskers across a football field.

Owls can fly without making a sound.

Golden eagles only weigh about 15 pounds, but they can hunt animals as large as deer, thanks to their immensely powerful and sharp talons.

On July 15, four types of raptors and their human caretakers revealed these attributes during the Golden Library’s Talon Talk.

Nature’s Educators hosted Talon Talk at multiple library branches throughout the week, as part of the Jeffco Public Library’s summer reading challenge.

Because a large crowd was expected, Golden Library staff moved the event to the courtyard behind City Hall. About 65 people attended, including some passersby who saw the raptors from the Clear Creek Trail and wanted to learn more about them.

Nature’s Educators, a nonprofit based in Florence, Colorado, is an educational wildlife program licensed by county, state, and federal agencies to care for non-releasable birds of prey, mammals, and herptiles for educational programs.

For instance, the four raptors at the July 15 Talon Talk had sustained major injuries or had been raised in captivity, Nature’s Educators program specialist Alex Olow explained.

Olow recommended that people do what they can to protect and promote raptors and other birds in their neighborhoods. He suggested building birdboxes that songbirds and even small raptors like kestrels can make a home in.

He also advised against letting housecats outside unsupervised, as they kill millions of birds every year, and against throwing food on the side of the road, as it attracts critters and subsequently attracts birds of prey.

Four feathery friends

Raptors are birds of prey characterized by their powerful eyesight and strong talons, he continued. Each species of raptor has its own unique characteristics, which Olow shared as volunteer Kade Rodenbeck presented a different raptor to the crowd.

The first one was a barn owl named Comet.

Barn owls can be found on every continent except Antarctica, Olow said. They have asymmetrical ears, giving them the best hearing of any animal. They can turn their heads 270 degrees, and their aerodynamic feathers allow for completely silent flight.

Barn owls are excellent pest control, as they can eat four mice a day. However, because of that, they’re at risk of consuming rodenticide, Olow said.

Barn owls are among the 13 owl species native to Colorado, but they’re typically not seen much in urban areas.

The second raptor to make its Golden debut was Salvador the crested caracara.

The crested caracara is sometimes called the Mexican eagle, Olow said, despite not being an eagle. It shares some attributes with hawks and vultures, but the crested caracara is actually a type of falcon.

Salvador was hit by a car and had to have his wing amputated, Olow explained. Because of that, he has balance issues.

Crested caracaras are opportunistic hunters and often hunt on foot. They will eat carcasses and food in other birds’ nests, as well as live prey like insects, fish, small birds, rodents and more.

Next up was Sashimi, the turkey vulture.

Sashimi was found abandoned in a box. Olow said Nature’s Educators believe someone tried to keep Sashimi as a pet, found out that was illegal, and so abandoned him.

Turkey vultures are so called because of their turkey-like feet and red faces, but unlike actual turkeys. They are migratory, Olow said, and frequent Colorado between April and October.

Finally, Nature’s Educators saved the biggest raptor for last, as Gaia the golden eagle made her Golden debut.

Golden eagles are actually bigger than bald eagles, Olow explained. Gaia weighs 10 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan.

Like Salvador, Gaia was hit by a car, detaching a retina in her left eye. While she might be able to survive in the wild with such an injury, her caretakers tested her by releasing prey for her to catch. Gaia saw the prey well enough to attack it, but not well enough to kill it. So, she remains under human care.

Olow was unsure of Gaia’s age, saying she’s was an adult when she was found and has been in human care for eight years. Thus, she could be as old as 12. In the wild, golden eagles can live up to 30 years, but they can live longer in captivity.

Golden eagles are apex predators. They’ve been known to attack wolves, bighorn sheep and other large animals, with Olow saying of eagles like Gaia, “She will eat anything she can catch.”

Golden eagles are sometimes called serpentine eagles because they frequently hunt snakes. In fact, the Mexican flag depicts a golden eagle eating a snake, and the golden eagle is the national bird of Mexico and four other countries.

Color your world

Nature’s Educators has done other programs for the Jeffco Public Library branches before, as well as other library systems, cities and other entities along the Front Range.

For more information about natureseducators.org.

The Jeffco Public Library branches will be hosting other events as part of its Color Your World summer reading challenge, which runs through July 31.

For more information, visit jeffcolibrary.org.

Click through additional photos from the July 15 Talon Talk:

The post Prey Tell: Families learn about raptors at Jeffco Public Library’s Talon Talk appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Weld County is hosting a free electronics waste disposal events in Severance and Greeley, according to a news release on July 7. 

There will be two events where you can drop off unwanted or broken electronic devices at the drive-thru e-waste events at no cost, approved by the Weld County Board of Commissioners, the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE), and the Household Hazardous Waste Program. 

According to officials, the first event will be at 8 a.m. July 26 at Severance High School, at 1200 Hidden Valley Parkway. The second event runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. August 9 at the Island Grove Grandstand Arena Parking Lot, 14^th Avenue in Greeley. 

The county urges residents to make a reservation on the Household Hazardous Waste Website for drop-off. Residents may drive up without a reservation, but if the lines are long, they will be asked to return, according to officials. 

The permitted items include electronic devices such as computer monitors, laptops, televisions, microwaves, and similar items. IT Refresh will provide collection services through a certified electronics recycler responsible for secure pickup, transportation, destruction, and disposal of all items dropped off for disposal. 

Additionally, all items must fit in a standard resident vehicle with easy access for unloading. No business vehicles are accepted, and trailers are not allowed. 

 For more details about e-waste events and to schedule a drop-off, please visit www.weld.gov/go/hhw.

The post Weld offers two electronics disposal events appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Four Front Range electrical utilities — Colorado Springs Utilities, CORE Electric Cooperative, Platte River Power Authority, and United Power — are teaming up in an effort to modernize in-state electricity transmission.

“We expect our growth to continue, so addressing transmission congestion is critical,” said Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power, in a July 15 statement. “United Power serves an area that is growing quickly, attracting large residential developments and new businesses alike. A more reliable transmission route would help to stabilize costs and increase reliability for current and future members in the cooperative’s service territory.

“A new transmission solution could also benefit the utilities by allowing them to better access generation and share transmission resources, helping to meet Colorado’s clean energy goals,” he said.

CORE Electric Cooperative serves customers in Douglas, Clear Creek, Park and Jefferson counties. The Platte River Power Authority includes customers in Loveland, Fort Collins, Longmont and Estes Park. United Power serves Adams, Weld, Clear Creek and Jefferson counties.

The three rural Metro Denver power companies and the Colorado Springs Utilities aim to reduce electric transmission congestion, improve system reliability, expand access to renewable energy sources, and support Colorado’s goal for carbon reduction, according to officials. 

According to officials, the transmission lines are part of the electric grid that supplies power within their area, from power plants to local utilities and substations. 

The population growth in the Colorado Front Range presents challenges due to the resilience of transmission congestion limits. The four utility power companies serve more than 1.5 million Coloradans in the state’s fastest-growing regions. 

“We are committed to decarbonizing our portfolio for our four owner communities while supporting our neighboring utilities as we all make this energy transition,” says Jason Frisbie, CEO of Platte River Power Authority. “All options are on the table to help improve reliability and reduce costs, including opportunities to enhance transmission capabilities as we move into an organized market.”

Additionally, according to officials, Springs Utilities, Platte River Power Authority, and United Power will join the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Regional Transmission Organization on April 1, 2026, to help manage costs and maintain reliability. Also, CORE would determine market presence alongside the South Power Pool. 

“This is a positive first step in exploring alternative ways for our four utilities to support growth and resiliency across our service territories,” stated Pam Feuerstein, CORE CEO. “Additional transmission would enable CORE to continue providing affordable and reliable power to our members, now and into the future.”

“The four utilities have agreed to continue to evaluate future transmission options that can best support each utility’s needs while advancing shared goals for reliability, affordability, and sustainability.”

The post Four Front Range power utilities cooperate to improve electricity service appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Adams County will get $352,000 in grants from the Geothermal Energy Grant Program to support geothermal heating initiatives, according to the Colorado Energy Office. 

“We are thrilled to receive these geothermal grants from the Colorado Energy Office for the Waymire Dome and Colorado Air and Spaceport CASP tower projects,” said Lynn Baca, Chair of the Board of Commissioners. “This funding represents a major milestone in Adams County’s commitment to powering all county buildings with 100% renewable energy by 2030. With these investments, we expect to save over $40,000 annually in energy costs and reduce carbon emissions by more than nine million kilograms—demonstrating both environmental leadership and fiscal responsibility.”

Adams County received $291,000 for the Waymire Dome at Riverdale Regional Park and $51,000 for the air traffic control tower at Colorado Air and Spaceport CASP, according to officials.  As part of this funding, $1.6 million was awarded across the state for this program.

The Colorado Energy Office awarded 16 grants in this first round of funding. 

“By better using the heat beneath our feet to help us, we are leading the nation in innovative clean energy technologies that save Coloradans money and protect our air quality,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. “Investing in geothermal heating technology increases energy reliability and serves as a low-cost energy source.”

The grants will fund five single-structure geothermal projects, nine thermal energy network studies, and two thermal energy network installation efforts, according to officials. 

Additionally, 89.3% of the funding would be allocated to serve disproportionately impacted and low-income communities.

Gov. Polis’s goal is to make “The Heat Beneath Our Feet” initiative the leading effort in the Mountain West to advance geothermal technology, according to officials. 

According to officials, this is the last funding round through the Geothermal Energy Grant Program; incentives for geothermal projects are available until 2032 or until funding runs out.

For more information on these projects, see the Colorado Energy Office Geothermal Incentive Award Tracker.

The post Adams County seeks to use the ‘heat beneath our feet’ for two facilities appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Rosie, the Chilean Rose Hair tarantula, was bugging Kiara Peters Saturday and the Loveland residents couldn’t get enough.

“I love tarantulas so much,” said Peters, who stood in line inside Westminster’s Butterfly Pavilion to just let Rosie scuttle onto her hand for a few minutes.

“She is so cute, and I just love her,” said Peters, who finds the multi-legged Rosie irresistible. “Maybe it’s those eight legs. I just can’t get enough.”

Rosie has been part of the Butterfly Pavilion’s family for nearly 30 years. She and Goldie – a Chaco Golden Knee tarantula – along with other spiders, scorpions and millipedes are taking centerstage this weekend during the Butterfly Pavilion’s “Insectival: 30th anniversary “Bug Bash.”

The epic festival honors the varied and unsung world of invertebrates, or animals without backbones, say organizers.

“This is essentially a festival of life,” said Ryan Welch, the pavilion’s new president and CEO. “We want the public to have fun but also get educated on how these animals are essentially the foundation of life.”

The festival was expected to draw 3,000 people to enjoy live music, face painting, immersive exhibits, educational workshops, a marketplace and  firsthand animal encounters, said Butterfly Pavilion spokeswoman Jennifer Quermann. Festival-goers also got to see butterfly releases and cockroach races, Quermann said.

Amidst the fun, Quermann and others want to drive home the point that creepy crawlies like Rosie keep humanity alive.

“While people are here, we want to show people that these are animals we need to survive,” she said.

On Monday, Gov. Jared Polis issued a proclamation honoring invertebrates and the work of the Butterfly Pavilion.

“…Butterfly Pavilion has inspired millions in Colorado and around the world through hands-on learning, scientific innovation, global partnerships that protect invertebrates and the ecosystem they sustain…” the proclamation states.

Invertebrates are the earth’s “tiny heroes” who make up more than 97% or all animal species and are essential to life on earth, states the pavilion. From pollinating crops to cleaning waterways, insects pollinate crops and clean waterways, supporting entire ecosystems, Quermann said in a news release.

But habitat loss, pollution and climate change are causing invertebrates to disappear at an alarming rate. If bugs completely exit the earth, people won’t be far behind.

“If invertebrates were to completely disappear, we (humans) would not last very long,” Quermann said. “But if we disappeared, invertebrates would continue on.”

Crawling for 30 years

The Bug Bash will also spotlight the efforts of the Butterfly Pavilion to fight for invertebrates during the facility’s 30-year history, she said. This effort has been through conservation science, public education and groundbreaking research.

Insectival, Quermann said,  is a “movement, inviting the community to honor three decades of impact and join the fight for our planet’s smallest, mightiest animals. “

Bug Bash goes until 7 p.m. Saturday at the Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104^th Avenue, Westminster. It continues Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The post Bugs celebrated this weekend at Butterfly Pavilion’s Insectival: 30th anniversary Bug Bash appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

When playing sports outdoors, there can be some interference from the elements — the wind, rain or snow. But it is unusual to navigate the ball around a minefield of tubers, swimmers and other kayakers.

Still, six teams of kayakers managed it July 10, as the Colorado Whitewater Association hosted its annual downriver race – but with a new format.

Rather than a strict individual sprint down the creek, as in previous years, this year’s was a ball race.

The kayakers grouped into teams of two or three, and together, navigated a yoga ball about 200-300 yards down the creek and across the finish line. They were allowed to hit their own ball with their paddles or hands, but couldn’t interfere with the other teams’.

Between heats, the kayakers were strategizing ways to improve but ultimately said they were having a lot of fun.

“The competition seems fierce,” Boulder’s Jake Davidson said before the race started. “I expect it will be a battle of wills.”

The teams competed in a tournament, with two teams going head-to-head for most heats. The exception was the so-called “monster loser’s bracket,” where the three teams that lost in the first round competed simultaneously. The winning team would reintegrate into the main bracket.

Team H2O not only survived the three-way elimination round but ultimately came back to win the entire tournament. Winners received gift cards to local businesses for their efforts.

CWA board member Nik White, who helped organize the downriver race, described how the CWA has been hosting events like this and the Golden-based kayak rodeo for 25 years. With more than 700 members across the state, he said it’s a great way to bring kayakers together in Golden during summer.

‘A battle of wills’

Downriver race participants weren’t required to be CWA members to participate, but registration was free for members.

As such, Lakewood’s Andrew Daw signed up for a membership just before the race. Golden’s Courtney Kloor, his teammate, convinced Daw to join her and another teammate for the race, with the three of them competing under the name Whitewater Wackos.

Kloor said, in general, there are several types of kayaks, each with their own pros and cons. The playboats are smaller but maneuver better, while the half-slices are longer but go faster. The team had a mix of playboats and half-slices.

Some types of kayaks wouldn’t be practical for this type of event, she said, because it would likely involve hitting rocks and other boats. So, plastic kayaks were better, since they can take the hits better.

Kloor said she’s done a few minor races before, but had never done a team event. Daw, meanwhile, said he’d never competed in any kayaking event before, but was eager to try.

Davidson and his fellow Boulderite Jonathan Russell, who competed as Team Tech Ballers, said they’d competed in other CWA events in Golden before but had never done a ball race.

The two said they go kayaking together regularly, with Davidson believing that their synergy would help them in the competition.

‘A great way to spend the summer’

Overall, Davidson and Russell said Golden’s Clear Creek Whitewater Park is one of their favorite kayaking spots. Davidson estimated that they visit it every other week in the summer.

Russell summarized the experience as: “We come for Clear Creek and stay for the Mexican food.”

The creek’s also a convenient location for Golden-area kayakers like Kloor and Daw.

Daw said he started learning kayaking about a year-and-a-half ago, and while he said it’s harder than it looks, he also didn’t want people to be intimidated by it the way he’d been.

The kayaking community is super-welcoming, he said. He can post on social media that he wants to go boating and ask if anyone would want to go with him for safety and fun, and people will go with him.

“It’s not as scary as it seems,” he said.

Kloor, who’s been kayaking for three years and is a CWA member, said the sport is “a great way to spend the summer,” as it offers the same thrill as downhill skiing. She also encouraged others to try it.

White said the CWA is hosting other events in Idaho Springs and the Bailey area later this month.

Overall, the CWA hosts events across the state and throughout the year, to give kayakers a chance to meet even during the off-season. It also partners with Golden and other cities on their whitewater features, he said, and has been promoting whitewater access and conservation for 70-plus years.

For more information, visit coloradowhitewater.org.

Click through additional photos from the July 10 competition:

The post Having a Ball: Kayakers enjoy CWA’s newly-formatted downriver race appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Highlands Ranch Water has been celebrating Smart Irrigation Month this July by offering efficient watering techniques and programs. Although the month is about halfover, homeowners can still save money by watering their landscapes in a more efficient way.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, up to 50% of water used outdoors for irrigation purposes is lost due to wind, evaporation during the hottest part of the day and runoff. 

Additionally, a household with an automatic irrigation system that is not properly maintained and operated can waste up to 25,000 gallons of water annually. 

This is why Highlands Ranch Water – which serves Highlands Ranch and the Solstice communities – encourages residents to water in multiple, short cycles either before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m., allowing the water to soak into the soil before it runs off onto sidewalks or streets. 

The water district also recommends residents water no more than two times each week during normal, mild weather conditions from April through the second week of October. Landscapes can be watered three times during extreme heat. 

One of the ways Highlands Ranch Water is combating inefficient water use is through a partnership with Rachio technology. 

Rachio is an innovative technology company that aims to provide customers with optimal watering year-round through sprinkler controllers and hose timers controlled on an app. 

Through this partnership, Highlands Ranch Water customers can receive a discount on the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controllers at various times of the year. 

The smart sprinkler controller uses local weather data to determine irrigation needs for individual landscapes and automatically adjusts. The controller also creates custom watering schedules based on the homeowner’s soil, plants and sun exposure; updates seasonally without manual reprogramming; and monitors how much water is being used and saved. 

However, if needed, customers can make adjustments to the controller on their smartphone by using the Rachio app. 

Highlands Ranch Water estimates this device can save an average single-family household about 15,000 gallons of water per irrigation season. 

“The discount is only for 8-zone and 16-zone controllers,” said Lauren Appleby, Highlands Ranch Water digital communications specialist. “And it is a maximum of one controller per customer.”

Zones refer to the number of specific areas of a landscape that are watered by a single vale on an irrigation system and are often used to ensure certain areas are receiving the appropriate amounts of water. 

Customers must fill out a form at rachio.com/redeem to purchase a controller,  and select Highlands Ranch Water as their utility. 

After customers purchase a Rachio Smart Controller, Appleby said they can apply for a smart controller rebate on the Highlands Ranch Water website to get up to an additional $75 reimbursement. 

“We require a receipt of purchase when applying for a smart controller rebate, and those applications must be submitted within 90 days of purchase,” Appleby said. 

Other rebates and programs

One of the most effective and water-efficient systems for Colorado shrubs, perennial plants and trees is the drip irrigation rebate. 

Within the Highlands Ranch Water boundary, drip irrigations are exempt from the district’s daytime watering restrictions and Stage 1 drought restrictions. 

According to the Highlands Ranch Water website, those who convert their overhead spray irrigation system to a drip irrigation system may be eligible for a rebate of $50 per zone. 

Another option is the turf replacement program, which encourages customers to convert water-thirsty plant materials into a water-efficient landscape. This saves the average participant about 25,000 gallons of water annually. 

All landscape conversions must first be approved by the Highlands Ranch Community Association or the Solstice Architectural Control Committee. The water district states that funding for this program is limited, and therefore, is on a first-come first-served basis. 

Applications are accepted through Oct. 1. 

Homeowners can also participate in the High Efficiency Nozzle Replacement Program.

Through this program, customers can receive a rebate of $4 for every nozzle they replace with a more high efficient nozzle, such as the  Hunter MP Rotator, Rain Bird Rotary nozzles, Toro Precision Rotary Nozzles, K-Rain Rotary Nozzles. 

Applications for this program must be submitted within 90 days of purchase.

Other rebates worth mentioning are those for  a rain sensor, a soil test – which reveals nutrients and pH levels – and a Garden in a Box. 

All rebates, programs and applications can be found at highlandsranchwater.org/rebates-and-incentives.

The post Highlands Ranch Water offers rebates for customers, encouraging smart water use appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Mosquitos collected at several testing sites in northern Weld County have tested positive for West Nile Virus, county health officials announced July 7.

“The increasing hot weather often leads to favorable conditions for the Culex mosquito that carries West Nile virus,” said Jason Chessher, Executive Director of the Weld County Health Department. “The public needs to be vigilant because West Nile Virus has a permanent summer presence in Colorado.”

Weld County Public Health and Environment trapped mosquitoes in several towns in Weld County that tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to the county.

A Weld County contractor monitors the county’s traps in three zones.

The most northern zone, Zone 1, includes Greeley, Evans, Kersey, LaSalle and the surrounding area. The zone near the middle county is Zone 2 and it includes Johnston, Milliken, Platteville and the surrounding area. Mosquitoes trapped in Zones 1 and 2 have tested positive for West Nile, according to officials. 

Zone 3 is the most southern zone and it includes Fort Lupton, Dacono and Firestone and the surroundings. Tests at traps from those communities have not shown West Nile virus so far.

No human cases reported

Weld County testing will continue to monitor the West Nile Virus as officials report an increase in Culex mosquitoes carrying the virus. According to health officials, no human cases of West Nile have been reported in Weld County. As the weather stays hot in July and August, the number of Culex mosquitoes infected with the West Nile virus is expected to rise.  

According to officials, it takes between three and 14 days for West Nile Virus symptoms and infection to appear. The symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, weakness, and rash; however, some individuals may not experience any symptoms. 

If you think you have symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Officials say there are no medicines to treat or vaccines to prevent West Nile Virus. Fewer than one percent of infected people develop a serious, sometimes deadly, neuroinvasive illness.

 According to health officials recommend following the four “D’s” to prevent mosquito bites: 

• DRAIN standing water around your house weekly. Remember to drain water from tires, cans, flowerpots, clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, toys and puddles. 

• DUSK and DAWN are when mosquitoes are most active. Limit outdoor activities and take precautions to prevent mosquito bites during these times. 

• DEET is an effective ingredient to look for in insect repellents. Other repellents containing picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthane-diol are also effective against mosquitoes. Always follow the product label instructions carefully. 

• DRESS in long sleeves and pants, and a hat, in areas where mosquitoes are active. 

For more information about preventing mosquito bites and West Nile Virus, including a map of mosquito zones and trapping and testing updates, visit weld.gov/go/zoonosis 

The post Weld County mosquitos test positive for West Nile virus appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

The storm clouds above the Elbert County Fairgrounds were dark and foreboding as the Elbert County Board of County Commissioners met there on June 24. In the middle of the meeting, the public hearing for Xcel Energy’s Power Pathway 1041 Application, a tornado warning alarmed through the phones of the crowd in the Agricultural Building.

The weather mirrored the mood in the room, full of people who came to comment on the billion-dollar pathway cutting through Elbert County, which would place 275 poles ranging from 104 to 140 feet tall over a span of 48 miles.

After the meeting stretched into the next day, the three county commissioners unanimously voted to draw up a resolution denying Xcel’s application. Though the utility’s application was considered incomplete by the county, Xcel opted to move forward with the process anyway.

In an update to the Elbert County Environmental Alliance, ECEA board member Kerry Jiblits said the public comment portion of the meeting was outstanding. “So many people showed up to share their stories and concerns,” she said. “Approximately 50 people spoke, and there were many who had signed up to speak but had to leave before their turn. The speakers were articulate and well spoken, and many shared very heartfelt stories, often being moved to tears during their impassioned speeches. State Representative Chris Richardson, Senator Rod Pelton, and Kim Monson, a radio talk show moderator, also spoke. Not one person spoke in favor of the project.”

Anger and discontent

Speaker after speaker stepped up to voice their anger and discontent with the pathway, expressing feelings of frustration, distrust and sometimes helplessness. In general, county residents feel that any benefits to Elbert County don’t outweigh the risks or detriments the Power Pathway would bring. There are still concerns about property values, infringement on property rights and government overreach. People spoke about losing their rural way of life, future development along the route and the negative impact on roads.

Sherri Christensen, who opposes the project, said the pathway does not serve the residents of Elbert County. “We are not against energy development,” she said, “but we quickly realized Xcel had no intention of negotiating with the residents of Elbert County.”

She continued: “We are up against a corporate giant on Wall Street who is trying to bully all of us into accepting the pathway. Make no mistake, this is the first battle we will have with Xcel and their constituents because what comes next is solar and wind farms.”

Beverly Durant, president of the Kiowa School Board, agreed, saying, “Xcel has absolutely no regard for Elbert County or any of its citizens, or any of you, or any of our staff … what it really came down to is money.”

For some, the pathway has become personal. Leah Braton stood up to speak on behalf of her husband, whom she feels died due to stress from the Power Pathway coming to the area. After Braton and her husband met with an Xcel representative who told them they’d “get used” to the high-voltage lines and that the line would be going right through town, her husband Howard suffered a brain aneurysm that would eventually lead to his death.

Brenda Kelly, from Simla, said she and many others took the day off of work to come to the meeting. She believes Xcel will force their way through Elbert County, with or without county approval.

“Why should Elbert County be sacrificed so city people can consume more power?” she asked. “Why should we be sacrificed so Xcel can make even more money? Why should we be threatened with eminent domain by a private company that is providing nothing to the landowners they want to take land from? Why should we endure the risks of wildfires in an area with high winds and lots of dry fodder? Why should we have to pay higher homeowner’s insurance to cover fire risk? Why should we lose the retirement equity we all have in our homes when our values decrease due to this line?”

“I implore you to set aside the carrot of income that Xcel keeps dangling before you,” Kelly went on. “Some things are worth so much more than money. This is one of them. Please protect our county, not only from this transmission line, but the subsequent wind and solar projects that are sure to come with the mandate to slather the eastern plains with them. We need to know that our Board of Commissioners is with us even if our state goes against us.”

Utility responds

Xcel had an opportunity to address many of the concerns raised during public comment and respond to questions from the BOCC. Its representatives tried to alleviate concerns about property values and wildfire risk, explain the benefits to Elbert County, clarify the process of condemnation proceedings and more.

Patrick Kuretich, who supports Xcel’s Transmission Operations Organization in the area of Wildfire, said, “… as a company we do take that [wildfire] extremely seriously, that’s why we filed two wildfire mitigation plans, one back in 2020, we’ve re-upped and filed one for 2025 to 2027. We continue to make investments in Colorado in the area of wildfire.” Kuretich detailed how Xcel monitors weather and transmission lines to minimize risk.

Jennifer Chester, Xcel’s Manager of Siting and Land Rights, said later that, in her understanding, their application was deemed incomplete because of unsigned fire district forms. “We have been working with the fire districts to try and get those forms signed,” she said. “We weren’t able to get those forms signed and that’s why we elected to move forward because we didn’t have them and we weren’t getting indication at the time that they were or weren’t going to be signed. We can’t make anyone sign them and wanted to present the information to the county to have that reviewed and to move the process forward …”

Chester also clarified that the transmission line wouldn’t serve Elbert County customers directly but provides power to the “bulk electric system”; since Colorado has an interconnected grid it’s possible Elbert County could benefit directly in the future.

Xcel needs to negotiate with 48 landowners for access. The utility says it has “acquired 25 of those landowners” and filed condemnation proceedings with 13 others.

In reference to those proceedings, County Commissioners Dallas Schroeder and Byron McDaniel both had questions. Schroeder said it feels like the cart was put before the horse: “… to start these condemnation issues before even coming to this board for an up or down certainly gets the feel of an entitlement and `we’re gonna do what we want to do, it doesn’t matter what happens at this hearing.’”

Schroeder said he’ll be in contact with state Sen. Rod Pelton and state Rep. Chris Richardson to see if there’s something that can be done through legislation. “Because it feels wrong,” he said, “and it puts the landowner at a disadvantage in the negotiations when it hasn’t even been satisfied here.”

Schroeder still has other concerns about the application, specifically the fire prevention and safety forms as well as discussion with the Natural Resources Conservation Service concerning a Wetland Reserve Program along the route.

McDaniel and Commissioner Mike Buck are both certain the pathway will reduce property values, despite information from Xcel claiming there will be no such reduction. “We’re fooling ourselves if we’re gonna say it doesn’t devalue the land,” Buck said.

In McDaniel’s opinion, the pathway will be detrimental to homeowners and the county. “This line serves no purpose here for Elbert County and frankly I don’t care about Denver and Aurora … I’m looking out for the people here in Elbert County,” he said. “I feel like Xcel could have approached this a lot differently. I feel like … it could go out east and follow I-70. There are other routes other than cutting through here.”

McDaniel added, to applause, it was “never the wrong time to do the right thing” and implored Xcel to reconsider the current route.

Xcel can appeal

The BOCC met on July 2 to review, sign and finalize the resolutions denying the application. Going forward, Xcel has the option to appeal the decision with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.

Video of the June 24 portion of the meeting is available at tinyurl.com/3bwvc74j and June 25 at tinyurl.com/mrye79py. Recent BOCC agendas and minutes are available at elbertcounty-co.gov/129/Agendas-Minutes.

The county webpage about the pathway, tinyurl.com/24yvtwmc, includes Xcel’s 1041 application and accompanying documents.

For more information about Xcel’s Power Pathway, visit coloradospowerpathway.com.

For more information about the Elbert County Environmental Alliance, visit www.ecealliance.org.

The post Elbert County commissioners reject Xcel Power Pathway application appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Three years after the Marshall Fire, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners is taking a proactive approach to fire mitigation, approving funding for a new Wildland Fire Management Program that will create 37 jobs in the field of wildfire prevention. 

A $7 million budget request from Sheriff Reggie Marinelli was approved at the June 24 Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners meeting, which was prompted by the passage of Ballot Measure 1A, which allows Jeffco to retain revenue collected to help fund public safety measures. 

The funds will go toward creating a fully staffed wildland fire engine with two eight-person crews, hiring planning and analytics staff, and building out community engagement and risk assessment programs to help Jeffco residents avoid fire risks. The program will also include a grant program that helps residents pay for fire mitigation infrastructure in and around their homes. 

“During the fire season, we’re going to have seven-day coverage and staffing for the county, which is something we’ve never had before,” Brian Keating, the Wildland Fire Program manager, said. “We’re going to have a community engagement component to this program, and within there, we’re going to be establishing a county-wide home assessment program. 

“So, we’ll work with homeowners, and we’ll send folks out to look at their property, and we’ll provide them with recommendations on what they can do, both in terms of defensible space and home hardening to mitigate the risk of wildfire impacting them,” Keating continued. 

Keating said that the $7 million is divided into a $2.3 million one-time capital investment in wildland fire trucks, equipment for crews and other firefighting infrastructure, while there will also be a sustained annual investment of $4.5 million to fund the jobs created by the program. 

Those positions will likely start to get filled by August, and Keating hopes to have the program fully staffed by mid-fall. 

A spokesperson for the county said that Jeffco ranks higher than 99% of counties nationwide for wildfire danger and is the second-highest at-risk county in Colorado for wildfire danger.

“This initiative represents a significant step forward in our mission to better serve and protect Jefferson County,” Marinelli said. “Wildfire risk is extremely high in our county, and this program will allow us to be more proactive and better equipped to respond to fire-related emergencies.” 

Keating said he hopes the program allows the county to support its fire protection districts and other firefighting partners more effectively. 

“My goal for this program is really to support our partners,” Keating said. “So we’ve been working very closely with all of the fire protection districts in Jefferson County and the various fire departments at the municipal level to identify what their needs are and what we can do to support them. 

“And so everything that I just mentioned in terms of this investment are things that are going to help support them in the work they do, both with fire response, responding to incidents, as well as working in the community to educate and create awareness and help them be more prepared for fire,” Keating continued. 

Risk assessments will be carried out by county staffers on an as-requested basis, allowing residents to have a professional appraise their property for fire damage. The program will also include a social media education component.

Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Chair Lesley Dahlkemper praised the decision to fund the Wildland Fire Management Program. 

“This is an urgent need in our county, and the Board of Commissioners could not be more supportive of this comprehensive and well-thought-out plan,” Dahlkemper said. 

The post Jeffco Commissioners approve Wildland Fire Management Program funding appeared first on Colorado Community Media.