The current Maroon Creek hydroelectric plant was built in the late 1980s. Its maximum output is 450 Kilowatts. The Ruedi power plant was built in 1984 and has a capacity of 5.0 megawatts. The City owns the generator building and the water rights, but the dam is controlled by the Bureau of Reclamation. Both power plants sell their energy to the grid, whereas the new Castle Creek plant will directly deliver power to the City's electric utility serving nearly 3,000 residential and commercial customers. The City of Aspen is also looking into several micro hydro projects around town.
The Castle Creek Energy Center plan is a key component in providing renewable energy sources to the Aspen community.
The Energy Center will be a hydroelectric facility, renewable energy model, producing approximately 8% of the annual energy for Aspen's electric customers and reducing Aspen's CO2 emissions by about 5,000 tons a year.
How It Will Work
The turbine and generator convert the force of water falling from 325 feet, from the Thomas Reservoir, into electric power. The water will travel a 42 inch penstock (pipe) which will supply the plant with approximately 52 cubic feet per second of head and double as an emergency drain line for the Thomas Reservoir if the reservoir walls are breached. The electricity will be placed on the City of Aspen.