Where is the Drake Power Plant?
Colorado Springs
Somer Mese has already cried a few times since she first found out. Her workplace — the Martin Drake coal-fired power plant with its iconic smokestacks rising in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs — will stop burning coal this week.
Where does Colorado Springs get its power?
27, some 30,000-plus days after Martin Drake first started turning coal dust into electricity for El Paso County. Colorado Springs still operates the Ray Nixon coal-fired plant, but is transitioning to solar arrays, natural gas and other electricity sources.
When was Martin Drake Power Plant built?
Utilities only has one coal burning unit left at Drake, a generator built in 1968 that produces 77 megawatts of power or about 7% of the power produced through all of Utilities’ gas, oil and coal generators.
What kind of power plants are in Colorado?
Natural gas-fired
| Name | Location | Generation Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ray D Nixon Power Plant | El Paso County | Simple Cycle (x2) |
| George Birdsall Plant | El Paso County | Steam Turbine (x3) |
| Colorado Energy Nations Plant | Jefferson County | Steam Turbine (x3) |
| UC Boulder Power Plant | Boulder County | 2×1 Combined Cycle |
What plant is in Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs Native Plants Pinon, Ponderosa pine. Native Shrubs – Serviceberry, Rabbitbrush, Currant, Sumac, Wild rose, Snowberry. Native Flowers – Primrose, Penstemon, Sunflower, Clover, Goldenrod, Sage, and many more. Native Grasses – Indian rice grass, Grama grasses, Little bluestem.
Is it expensive to live in Colorado Springs?
Cost of Living in Colorado Springs, Colorado by Expense Category. Colorado Springs’s housing expenses are 2% lower than the national average and the utility prices are 26% lower than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 3% lower than the national average.
How much of Colorado Springs is renewable?
Together, with our 114 megawatts of solar power, about 20% of our electric generation comes from renewable sources. “This agreement supports our Energy Vision and its pillars of economic, environment, resiliency and innovation,” says Utilities Board Chairwoman Jill Gaebler.
What power grid is Colorado on?
Colorado is more prepared for cold weather and has a much different regulatory system. However, Hansen said Colorado’s electric grid has similar vulnerabilities. “Colorado is relatively islanded in the Western power grid,” Hansen said.
What plant Hardiness Zone is Colorado Springs?
Zone 5b
To add a little more precision to the zone designations, each zone is divided into 5 degree increments, “a” or “b.” Colorado Springs is in Zone 5b. Black Forest is in Zone 5a. Teller County, like most of our mountain areas, is in Zone 4.
Do hydrangeas grow in Colorado Springs?
Hydrangeas can be grown in a range of sun and shade conditions. Hydrangeas need moist well-drained soils, rich in organic matter. Most Colorado soils will benefit from the addition of peat moss and compost, retaining moisture as well as acidifying the soil. A layer of mulch is also helpful to keep soils evenly moist.
What is a livable salary in Colorado Springs?
Living Wage Calculation for El Paso County, Colorado
| 1 ADULT | 2 ADULTS (1 WORKING) | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 Children | 2 Children | |
| Living Wage | $14.78 | $33.39 |
| Poverty Wage | $6.13 | $12.60 |
| Minimum Wage | $12.00 | $12.00 |
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Colorado Springs?
Most financial advisors recommend spending no more than 30 percent of your annual income on rent. This means you would need to earn around $40,960 per year to comfortably afford a one-bedroom apartment in Colorado Springs.
When does Martin Drake coal plant in Colorado close?
A truck sprays water to keep coal dust down at the Martin Drake Power Station in Colorado Springs on Monday, August 23, 2021. The facility will burn through its final load of coal this week and begin the process of shutting down ahead of demolition to make way for a natural gas-fired facility that will generate far less climate-damaging emissions.
When is Martin Drake power plant going to be demolished?
The city plans to demolish the Martin Drake Power Plant completely by 2025, if not sooner. Benyamin says future uses of the site are still in the works, and depending on the lingering effects from years of burning coal and potential spills on the property, the city will likely have to foot the bill for clean up.
Is there a coal fired power plant in Colorado?
Colorado Springs Utilities still owns and operates another coal-fired power plant, Ray Nixon on the south end of the city. That one is slated to cease coal burning by 2029.
How long does it take Drake coal plant to fire up?
The new units can fire up in eight minutes, compared to 12 to 18 hours for the coal plant, said Aram Benyamin, chief executive of Colorado Springs Utilities. That makes them more useful in backing up new renewable generation. “They will run when we need them, and don’t when we don’t need them,” said Benyamin.