News
Sports
BASALT — The springs from Basalt Mountain might soon provide more than clean, fresh water to town residents.
The town is studying the construction of a micro-hydro plant that would supply enough power to offset use of 30 average homes, according to Town Manager Bill Kane. The micro-hydro project could provide up to 40 kilowatts, he said.
The town this spring will apply for a $350,000 grant from the state of Colorado, which has focused on clean energy projects under Gov. Bill Ritter's leadership the past three years. The town might pursue the project even if it doesn't receive state funds, Kane said. The town has a dedicated water fund that it would tap for the project, so it wouldn't require a new tax.
Final design and cost estimates aren't available yet. The concept would be to use the pipelines that deliver water from Lucksinger Springs, and possibly Basalt Springs, both of which are on Basalt Mountain, downhill to the town's water filtration plant. A hydroelectric turbine and generator, possibly two, would be added to the delivery lines, according to a prospectus. The power produced from the systems would be connected to the Holy Cross Energy grid.
“The potential generation of power would be in addition to continuing to use the water for potable purposes or to meet the town's other municipal needs,” the planning document says.
The Lucksinger Springs, named after an original ranching family in the Basalt area, flow year-round. The town's water rights are junior to the Colorado Division of Wildlife, which uses water to irrigate land above Lake Christine during summers. Flows outside of irrigation season average about 1 cubic foot per second.
“One of the town's objectives in the Lucksinger Springs portion of the project is to ensure that it is beneficially using the water rights which it owns,” the project prospectus says.
Basalt Springs flow year-round and are the town's primary source of drinking water. The flow is about 0.7 cubic feet per second.
Kane said there would be a drop in elevation of about 500 feet from the springs to the micro-hydro plant.
The town will determine later this spring whether to pursue the project.
scondon@aspentimes.com
The town is studying the construction of a micro-hydro plant that would supply enough power to offset use of 30 average homes, according to Town Manager Bill Kane. The micro-hydro project could provide up to 40 kilowatts, he said.
The town this spring will apply for a $350,000 grant from the state of Colorado, which has focused on clean energy projects under Gov. Bill Ritter's leadership the past three years. The town might pursue the project even if it doesn't receive state funds, Kane said. The town has a dedicated water fund that it would tap for the project, so it wouldn't require a new tax.
Final design and cost estimates aren't available yet. The concept would be to use the pipelines that deliver water from Lucksinger Springs, and possibly Basalt Springs, both of which are on Basalt Mountain, downhill to the town's water filtration plant. A hydroelectric turbine and generator, possibly two, would be added to the delivery lines, according to a prospectus. The power produced from the systems would be connected to the Holy Cross Energy grid.
“The potential generation of power would be in addition to continuing to use the water for potable purposes or to meet the town's other municipal needs,” the planning document says.
The Lucksinger Springs, named after an original ranching family in the Basalt area, flow year-round. The town's water rights are junior to the Colorado Division of Wildlife, which uses water to irrigate land above Lake Christine during summers. Flows outside of irrigation season average about 1 cubic foot per second.
“One of the town's objectives in the Lucksinger Springs portion of the project is to ensure that it is beneficially using the water rights which it owns,” the project prospectus says.
Basalt Springs flow year-round and are the town's primary source of drinking water. The flow is about 0.7 cubic feet per second.
Kane said there would be a drop in elevation of about 500 feet from the springs to the micro-hydro plant.
The town will determine later this spring whether to pursue the project.
scondon@aspentimes.com
