Cobirders: In response to the post about Xcel expanding their power network, I have several responses:
1. You can't have your cake and eat it, too. You can't be a consumer of significantly more electricity (in contrast to using fossil fuels for cars, furnace, etc.) without supporting the electrical supply chain. The electrical supply chain comes with some sacrifices, just like oil drilling comes with some negatives.
2. If we harass the process of bringing in a greater supply of electricity, it comes with adding a significant cost to the end product. Remember, Xcel has to pass onto us the economic costs of this $2 billion project. Do we want it more than that?
3. Birds are far more adaptable than some people give them credit for. It's like when I fill my feeders. The birds leave for a short time, but they will be back where food can be found. Yes, construction is a short-term annoyance, but the long-term benefit makes it worth it. And, the actual loss of habitat is likely to be quite small.
4. The addition of more power lines in remote areas that are not known for their tourism potential seems like a small sacrifice to pay for getting the electricity we need. California has had numerous fires and power outages due to demanding too high of electrical consumption before having the infrastructure to support it. Some of their fires were started by aging electrical systems and their power outages- that were almost daily when I was there this past year- were quite disruptive. We need the electrical infrastructure to move forward to prevent these types of things from happening.
5. Will these power stations and lines actually kill lots of birds or make them move permanently far away. I doubt it. Our cars kill lots of birds, but we don't propose eliminating cars because of that- we drive with greater caution instead.
We need to work with Xcel on this project to minimize the harm to the habitat, not work against them. Offering to work with someone is far more effective than working against them.
Rick Reeser
Milliken
I just found mapping by Excel of their 'Colorado Power Pathway' of new substations and giant transmission lines that are proposed to cut through eastern Colorado including in or near some very important bird habitat including Chico Basin. Are any conservation groups or birding groups that concern themselves with protecting vital bird habitat monitoring this? As the conservation chair for Arkansas Valley Audubon Society I am now going to try to send comments on their incursions into areas that we service buy there is a lot of Eastern Colorado that will is north of our area that will be impacted by that this major expansion by Excel. Given all the negative impacts on the birds we all love to watch I hope many will take a look and intervene as needed to try to protect the birds we still have. Here is the maps and basic info I have found: https://www.coloradospowerpathway.com/project-description/SeEtta MossCanon City
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