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"How Bout NO?" Otero County Speaks Out in Resolution On High-Power Transmission Line

If you have heard about the five mile wide energy corridor planned for Southeast Colorado and feel like you know little about it, you're not alone. In fact, you'd be in good company with a lot of folks in Southeast Colorado. The project is expected to affect, Baca, Prowers and Kiowa Counties directly, (see map below).

Otero County, while not directly effected recognized the need to support neighboring counties who would be and recently passed a resolution in support of them.


Below, you'll find a summary of the resolution and the entire resolution document signed and filed.



Resolution 2025-07 passed unanimously with the Otero County Board of Commissioners and states the following about it:


  • The U. S Department of Energy has expressed a need to carry green energy across several states to include Colorado but hasn't really defined the benefits to Otero County, its neighboring counties and the state in general.


  • It states the project has the potential to affect private property, agriculture land, local infrastructure and natural resources without consulting them about it.


  • The resolution states that the Department of Energy hasn't contacted people affected which includes land owners, to chat about how it could impact them.


  • The line is expected to remove farmland and disrupt ranching which would impact local economies in those communities. And the loss of farmland could impact jobs, cause businesses to close and put a bigger burden on remaining property owners to carry a bigger financial burden due to the loss of tax revenue from businesses.


  • The Department of Energy hasn't answered what compensation for these losses would be handled.


  • The Otero County Commissioner recognize this project isn't affecting Otero County but would impact the county due to the impact on neighboring counties affected.


  • County Commissioners support private property rights and is against eminent domain unless the property owners benefits and accepts real tangible benefits to them.


  • Otero County is pro-energy but not at the expense of their neighboring counties.


  • Also, that an evaluation should be done to protect historical and cultural sites.


To wrap up, the county asked the DOE to publish intent of the project and extend the comment period so that voices can be heard. They also asked the Department of Energy to notify officials to include counties if eminent domain would be taking place and that it wouldn't unless property owners would be accepting and would receive benefits they agree to.


Lastly, Otero County stated that the project should not move forward until health and environmental impact studies could be completed. Otero County calls on the State to support this resolution and protect rural communities from large scale infrastructure projects that don't serve or benefit local economies.


Otero County Commissioners signed this resolution on March 10, 2025, Chairman Rob Oquist, Commissioner Tim Knabenshue and Commissioner Jim Baldwin.



The following links are to the official site of the NIETC project.



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