CORE New Transmission Line Over Continental Divide

A critical transmission backbone of Colorado’s CORE Electric Cooperative’s service area climbs from the plains of Denver’s southern suburbs over the 10,000-foot-high Kenosha Range, then on to high mountain ranch country. This backbone of one of the nation’s largest rural electric cooperatives is vulnerable to power outages. The line travels over harsh country, subject to high winds, ice loading on wires and towers, large trees susceptible to mountain blowdowns and icing. To address the issue and shore up its mountain backbone that serves large swaths of western Jefferson and most of unincorporated Park County, the cooperative has undertaken the $120 million Hartsel to Conifer line that will upgrade to 115kV and create a looped system that will provide power in both directions in case the other line is interrupted. Stanley Consultants has been involved in the seven-phase project from its start, from transmission and substation design services, to permitting and right-of-way management. Engineers and construction crews have overcome operating helicopters at altitude, steep and rocky terrain, complicated vegetation management and difficult access.