WSP10999

• File Number: 8221.110.J
• Description: Juniper-Cross Mountain Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Yampa/White
• Date: 5/14/1982
• Title: The Juniper-Cross Mountain Project: A Preliminary Technical Review of Needs and Alternatives
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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5. Hydro projects.

~ There are many hydro projects other than

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~ Juniper-Cross Mountain which could potentially supply capacity to

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Colorado-ute. They include not only projects which Colorado-Ute

is already pursuing but projects being developed by cities, by

irrigation districts, and by private individuals and companies.

In addition, the Reagan administration has announced a policy of

encouraging non-federal development of power from federal dams.

Potential projects totaling over 230 Mw which have been identified

in or near the Colorado-Ute service area are listed in Table 4.

In addition, a study for the Colorado Energy Research Insti-

tute suggests that there is a substantial potential for "micro-

hydro," or projects below 50 kilowatts.

At $.07jkwh, potential

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micro-hydro for Colorado west of Denver is estimated as 43-53 Mw

in the winter months (94-129 Mw in the summer).30j Since the study

results are proportional to (geographical) area serviced, and

Colorado-Ute serves well over half of Colorado west of Denver, the

study suggests a potential (at $.07jkwh) of at least 22 peak Mw of

micro-hydro for CUEA.

6. Combustion turbines.

Combustion turbines, or gas turbines, are a

standard way of providing peaking capacity. They have relatively

low capital cost and maintenance cost, and they operate at a very

low capacity factor, so high fuel cost is not as important as it

would be for a baseload plant. They are easy to purchase and site,

and quick to install, taking less than three years from the order

date to operation date.3lj Thus, gas turbines are an option