Tri-State energizes Burlington-Lamar transmission line  

• Project bolsters Tri-State's multi-state transmission network.

• Members benefit from increased reliability and resiliency of expanded network, including potential for additional generation interconnections of more than 700 megawatts.

• Project first of several planned through 2028 under the generation and transmission cooperative’s Eastern Colorado Transmission Expansion. 

 (February 24, 2025 – Westminster, Colo.) As the first major component of its Eastern Colorado Transmission Expansion announced last April, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association has completed and energized its 230-kilovolt (kV), Burlington-Lamar, Colo., transmission line, which along with other projects currently under construction, increases reliability for Tri-State's member distribution cooperatives, and provides for additional generation interconnection of more than 700 megawatts.

Tri-State began construction on the 230-kV transmission line and improvements to its Burlington, Colo., and Lamar, Colo., substations in February 2024. The transmission line, which was energized Friday, is 112 miles long and is one of several major Tri-State transmission projects that will continue to be built into 2028.  

“The completion of our Burlington-Lamar transmission line represents a strategic and cost-effective approach to provide for reliable, resilient and affordable power for our members, while reducing system congestion and providing for the addition of new generating resources,” said Chris Pink, Tri-State senior vice president for operations. 

The projects under the Eastern Colorado Transmission Expansion, when completed, will have significant benefits for Tri-State's interconnected transmission system, and bolster reliability for members including San Isabel Electric Association, based in Pueblo West, Colo; Southeast Colorado Power Association, based in La Junta, Colo.; K.C. Electric Association, based in Hugo, Colo.; Morgan County Rural Electric Association, based in Fort Morgan, Colo; and Mountain View Electric Association, based in Limon, Colo.  

As with almost all permitting and construction of major transmission line project across the U.S., Tri-State’s Burlington-Lamar projects was years in the making. Tri-State first proposed the expansion project in the early 2000s, examined the proposal again in 2016, and began development in 2020. 

Tri-State led a task force involving some 60 stakeholders representing some 24 entities at the Colorado Coordinated Planning Group, to evaluate alternatives to meet its transmission needs in eastern Colorado, through multiple meetings between April and September 2021. Stakeholders proposed and Tri-State studied 15 proposals; of the alternatives studied, the proposed projects stood out as the best option that could meet Tri-State's needs, while at the same time being the lowest cost.  

The transmission line required permits, including some public hearings, from more than  a dozen local, state and federal government agencies or business entities, including the state of Colorado; Cheyenne, Kiowa, Kit Carson and Prowers counties; the Colorado Department of Transportation; Colorado Parks and Wildlife; the Colorado State Historic Preservation Office; the Federal Highway Administration; the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers; the Colorado Pacific, Union Pacific and Kyle railroads; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), which guided the cooperative through the federal Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  

Some 95% of the transmission line was developed on private land, and crosses more than 100 parcels of land, requiring more than 700 signatures for access, options to acquire right-of-way, compensation, encroachment and acquisition of right-of-way easements.  

Engineering activities also are underway on a new 31-mile-long, 230-kV transmission line from the Boone Substation near Boone, Colo., to a new Tri-State Huckleberry switching station south of Pueblo, Colo., to go into service in 2026. In addition, routing activities are underway for a new 72-mile-long, 230-kV transmission line between Tri-State's Big Sandy Substation near Limon, Colo., and a new Badger Creek switching station south of Fort Morgan, Colo., expected to be complete in 2028. 

            Summer construction on Tri-State's Burlington-to-Lamar transmission line project.

About Tri-State    

Tri-State is a power supply cooperative, operating on a not-for-profit basis, serving electric distribution cooperatives and public power district member-owners in four states. Together with our members, we deliver reliable, affordable and responsible power to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West. Visit www.tristate.coop.         

Contact    

Lee Boughey, VP Communications, 720-670-6696, lee.boughey@tristategt.org     
Mark Stutz, 303-254-3183, mark.stutz@tristategt.org     

Certain information contained in this press statement are forward-looking statements including statements concerning Tri-State’s plans, future events, and other information that is not historical information. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described from time to time in Tri-State’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Tri-State’s expectations and beliefs are expressed in good faith, and Tri-State believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, Tri-State cannot assure you that management’s expectations and beliefs will be achieved. There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein.