💧 Hydroelectric Power Plants in Colorado
Colorado operates 50 hydroelectric power plants totaling 1,188 MW of nameplate capacity. Annual generation: 1.6M MWh.
Hydroelectric plants spin turbines using falling or flowing water — typically from a dam-impounded reservoir. They are dispatchable, long-lived, and emission-free at the point of generation, though large reservoirs can disrupt rivers and ecosystems and methane can be released from flooded vegetation.
Plants50operating
Capacity1,187 MWnameplate
Generation1.6M MWhannual
All Colorado hydroelectric plants
| Plant | City | County | Capacity | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin Creek | Georgetown | Clear Creek County | 300 MW | Public Service Co Of Colorado |
| Mount Elbert | Twin Lakes | Lake County | 200 MW | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| Morrow Point | Montrose | Montrose County | 173 MW | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| Flatiron | Loveland | Larimer County | 95 MW | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| Blue Mesa | Gunnison | Gunnison County | 86 MW | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| Estes | Estes Park | Larimer County | 45 MW | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| Pole Hill | Loveland | Larimer County | 38 MW | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| Crystal | Montrose | Montrose County | 28 MW | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| Tesla | Colorado Springs | El Paso County | 27 MW | City Of Colorado Springs - (Co) |
| Green Mountain | Kremmling | Summit County | 26 MW | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| Shoshone (Co) | Glenwood Springs | Garfield County | 14 MW | Public Service Co Of Colorado |
| Towaoc | Cortez | Montezuma County | 11 MW | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| Upper Molina | Molina | Mesa County | 10 MW | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| Marys Lake | Estes Park | Larimer County | 8 MW | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| Gross Hydro Plant | Boulder | Jefferson County | 8 MW | Denver City & County Of |
| Tri-County Water Hydropower Project | Ridgway | Ouray County | 8 MW | Tri-County Water Conservancy District |
| James W. Broderick Hydropower Plant | Pueblo | Pueblo County | 8 MW | James W. Broderick Hydropower Plant |
| Vallecito Hydroelectric | Bayfield | La Plata County | 6 MW | Ptarmigan Res & Engy Inc |
| Manitou Springs | Manitou Spring | El Paso County | 6 MW | City Of Colorado Springs - (Co) |
| Lower Molina | Molina | Mesa County | 6 MW | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| North Fork Hydro Plant | Grant | Park County | 6 MW | Denver City & County Of |
| Boulder Canyon Hydro | Boulder | Boulder County | 5 MW | Boulder City Of |
| Basalt | Aspen | Eagle County | 5 MW | City Of Aspen- (Co) |
| Shavano Falls Hydro Drop 4 | Montrose | Montrose County | 5 MW | Shavano Falls Hydro Llc - Drop 4 Project |
| Tacoma | Durango | La Plata County | 5 MW | Public Service Co Of Colorado |
| Big Thompson | Loveland | Larimer County | 5 MW | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| Vinelands Power Plant | Palisade | Mesa County | 5 MW | Grand Valley Power Llc |
| South Canal Hydro-1 | Montrose | Montrose County | 4 MW | Delta-Montrose Electric Association |
| Ames Hydro | Ophir | San Miguel County | 4 MW | Public Service Co Of Colorado |
| Williams Fork Hydro Plant | Parshall | Grand County | 4 MW | Denver City & County Of |
| Boulder City Lakewood Hydro | Boulder | Boulder County | 4 MW | Boulder City Of |
| South Canal Hydro-3 | Montrose | Montrose County | 4 MW | Delta-Montrose Electric Association |
| Boulder City Silver Lake Hydro | Boulder | Boulder County | 3 MW | Boulder City Of |
| Foothills Hydro Plant | Littleton | Douglas County | 3 MW | Denver City & County-Foothills |
| Boulder City Betasso Hydro Plant | Boulder | Boulder County | 3 MW | Boulder City Of |
| Shavano Falls Hydro | Montrose | Montrose County | 3 MW | Shavano Falls Hydro Llc |
| Carter Hydro | Berthoud | Larimer County | 3 MW | Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District |
| Sugarloaf Hydro Plant | Leadville | Lake County | 3 MW | Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, Llc |
| Drop 5 (Co) | Montrose | Montrose County | 2 MW | Drop 5 Hydro Llc |
| Taylor Draw Hydroelectric Facility | Rangely | Rio Blanco County | 2 MW | Rio Blanco Water Conserv Dist |
| Hillcrest Pump Station | Denver | Denver County | 2 MW | Denver City & County Of |
| Dillon Hydro Plant | Summit | Summit County | 2 MW | Denver City & County Of |
| Redlands Water & Power | Grand Junction | Mesa County | 1 MW | Redlands Water & Power Company |
| Georgetown Hydro | Georgetown | Clear Creek County | 1 MW | Public Service Co Of Colorado |
| Mcphee | Cortez | Montezuma County | 1 MW | U S Bureau Of Reclamation |
| Granby Hydro | Granby | Grand County | 1 MW | Northern Water Hydropower Enterprise |
| Ruxton Park | Manitou Spring | El Paso County | 1 MW | City Of Colorado Springs - (Co) |
| Strontia Springs Hydro Plant | Littleton | Douglas County | 1 MW | Denver City & County Of |
| Salida | Salida | Chaffee County | 1 MW | Public Service Co Of Colorado |
| Castle Creek Hydroplant | Aspen | Pitkin County | — | City Of Aspen- (Co) |