Dear Editor: 

As a third-generation farmer and rancher on the Eastern Plains, I’ve spent my life fighting for a thriving rural Colorado. 

Agriculture is one of the biggest economic sectors in my current House District 65 and my soon to be Senate District 35. But it’s also a volatile business that is negatively impacted by uncertain economic conditions and commodity prices. 

Many of my constituents throughout the Eastern Plains are in the agricultural business and know first-hand how difficult and challenging the work can be, but they deserve financial security. Afterall, their success contributes to our local communities and our western quality of life.  

One of the ways I see rural Colorado being able to experience economic growth that the Front Range has benefited from is through the potential land-lease options because of the Colorado’s Power Pathway – a $1.7 billion investment from Xcel Energy that will harness energy from the critically important rural part of the state. 

Hear me out – it’s important to make it financially feasible to develop and produce the natural resources that this state offers, while we develop our renewable energy sources and make them competitive with traditional resources. 

The Pathway project gives us this opportunity. It not only offers agricultural landowners an opportunity to make money off their property, but this investment in the region bolsters our competitive edge and positions us for greater economic prosperity. 

A report published by The Western Way, Action 22, and Pro 15 analyzed the economic impact of the energy sector from 2000 to 2024 and found an estimated $9.4 billion in renewable energy construction and investment activity on the Eastern Plains. 

That translates to an estimated $23.1 million in annual property tax revenue to our communities. I hope you’ll join me supporting the economic driver that is Colorado’s Power Pathway. 

Representative Rod Pelton

Colorado House District 65 (2019 – 2023)

Colorado Senate District 35 (2023 – 2027)