Xcel Energy Moving Turbines Across Colorado To Close Roads
We've all gotten stuck by a train, in particular moving across Highway 34 west of Greeley, as massive flatbed train cars move those huge wind turbines north up to the wind farm near the Wyoming border.
Well, this weekend, it's going to be more than just a simply train car or two as trucks will be transporting a handful of heavy equipment across Northern Colorado, specifically from Loveland down to Platteville.
Xcel Energy announced they will be transporting generators and turbines beginning early Saturday morning around 7 AM. The route will take them from Loveland to the Fort St. Vrain Generating Station in Platteville, creating traffic issues along the way.
Expect delays on I-25, Highway 287 and Colorado Highway 66, especially around Exit 243 at Longmont and Lyons, off I-25.
Related: See What It Looks Like Inside a Wind Turbine in Colorado
If you think the trains move slow, the trucks move even slower - only about 5 MPH. Getting stuck behind one of these bad boys will have you longing for some out of state traveler taking in all the sights as they do 45 MPH in the left lane of I-25 headed south.
This will be the first of four moving operations Xcel Energy conducts in the coming months. The new equipment is being installed as part of Colorado's 2024 Clean Energy Plan, adding approximately 6,100 megawatts of new, clean generation capacity to the St. Vrain Generating Station in Platteville.
The full schedule and details of additional areas impacted by the moves in the coming months will be announced closer to the actual move dates.
Xcel Energy provides power in Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.