133rd largest plant in Colorado · 6807th nationally
Manitou Springs is a hydroelectric power plant in Colorado with a nameplate capacity of 5.6 MW. It generates roughly 14.6k MWh per year — enough to power about 1,394 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 30% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Manitou Springs |
|---|---|
| Operator | City Of Colorado Springs - (Co) |
| City | Manitou Spring |
| County | El Paso County |
| State | Colorado |
| ZIP | 80829 |
| Coordinates | 38.85556, -104.93306 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.5 MW | Operating | 1939 |
| 2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 2.5 MW | Operating | 1927 |
| 3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 0.6 MW | Operating | 2006 |
| NERC Region | WECC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Western Area Power Administration - Rocky Mountain Region |
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.