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Sustainable Energy Plan

Martin Drake Power Plant

Major demolition activities at the site of the Martin Drake Power Plant site are complete following nearly a century of electric generation in downtown Colorado Springs. 

For generations, Drake was a symbol of reliability thanks to the dedicated employees who worked there. Although the plant no longer stands, its legacy will live on as we transition to a new energy future. 


Demolition efforts began in the summer of 2023. From that time through July 2024, the project consisted of more than 83,000 hours of labor and the removal of approximately 8,700 gross tons of metal, filling 770 truckloads.  

The contractor handling the demolition took special steps to minimize dust, traffic, noise and protect air quality for the surrounding area.

The demolition project cost about $20 million – a price tag that would have grown without the offsets achieved by selling scrap material. 

The future of the site

The site is owned by the City of Colorado Springs and is currently held by Colorado Springs Utilities. The future use of this site will likely include a significant public process, but it’s also important to note potential use may be subject to a number of factors to include future environmental studies and resulting requirements set by the applicable environmental regulations.

On Feb. 22, 2023, the Downtown Partnership and the Legacy Institute presented a full report and executive summary to the Utilities Board to discuss plans for the future of the Drake site. Colorado Springs citizens are encouraged to review the documents, stay informed and provide feedback throughout the process.

The future of our electric system

To help manage future energy-related costs and adapt to a changing energy industry, we are pursuing several key initiatives:

  • Southwest Power Pool (SPP): We joined the SPP on Aug. 1, 2022, to help insulate customers from a volatile energy market. The SPP enhances the current and future reliability of the electric grid, and expands the ability to meet our clean energy goals.
  • Pike Solar Project: Completed in December 2023, the 175-megawatt project is the largest solar facility on our electric system.
  • Battery Storage: By 2025, we will add up to 100 megawatts of battery storage – the first of its kind on our electric system. Battery storage can increase grid resiliency and flexibility as new resources are added to our energy portfolio.
  • Expanding Energy Mix: After adding Pike Solar to the existing solar, wind and hydro resources, renewable energy is estimated to represent 27% of our energy portfolio.

Drake's history and legacy

All generation inside the Martin Drake Power Plant permanently shut down on Sept. 1, 2022. This marked the end of nearly a century of electric generation in downtown Colorado Springs. Drake provided reliable and cost-effective power for close to 100 years and enabled our city to grow and prosper in ways our early leaders could not have imagined. Thousands of employees and generations of workers (often members of the same family) have put their blood, sweat and tears into this staple of our community.

After only two years since the Utilities Board’s approval of our Sustainable Energy Plan and the decision to decommission Drake, we:

The decision to shutdown Drake was made with several factors in mind, to include environmental interests, changing needs of our system, the growing availability of renewable energy, the high maintenance costs of running aging coal-fired plants and the impact of anticipated regulation.

Current projects

Kelker Substation Expansion Project

Kelker Substation Expansion Project

The Kelker substation expansion project addresses our plan to improve system reliability and expand resources to meet growing energy demands. The Kelker substation expansion project addresses our plan to improve system reliability and expand resources to meet growing energy demands. The Kelker substation expansion project addresses our plan to improve system reliability and expand resources to meet growing energy demands.

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Marksheffel Water Main Installation

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We are working to improve the reliability of our water system on Marksheffel Rd. We are working to improve the reliability of our water system on Marksheffel Rd. We are working to improve the reliability of our water system on Marksheffel Rd.

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Jackson Fuller Energy Storage Project

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The Jackson Fuller energy storage project helps us store excess energy for use during periods of low generation or high demand. The Jackson Fuller energy storage project helps us store excess energy for use during periods of low generation or high demand. The Jackson Fuller energy storage project helps us store excess energy for use during periods of low generation or high demand.

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Fiber Network

Fiber Network

Colorado Springs will be one of the best-connected cities in the country, enabling the highest-speed internet connectivity for every home and ... Colorado Springs will be one of the best-connected cities in the country, enabling the highest-speed internet connectivity for every home and ... Colorado Springs will be one of the best-connected cities in the country, enabling the highest-speed internet connectivity for every home and ...

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Star Ranch Pump Station

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The Star Ranch Pump Station will improve water supply for fire protection, improve water quality and reduce the risk of water outages. The Star Ranch Pump Station will improve water supply for fire protection, improve water quality and reduce the risk of water outages. The Star Ranch Pump Station will improve water supply for fire protection, improve water quality and reduce the risk of water outages.

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Martin Drake Power Plant

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The demolition of the Martin Drake Power Plant has a tentative completion date at the end of 2024, barring unexpected delays. The demolition of the Martin Drake Power Plant has a tentative completion date at the end of 2024, barring unexpected delays. The demolition of the Martin Drake Power Plant has a tentative completion date at the end of 2024, barring unexpected delays.

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Central Bluffs Substation

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The Central Bluffs Substation project will modernize our infrastructure for sustainability, system resiliency and reliability. The Central Bluffs Substation project will modernize our infrastructure for sustainability, system resiliency and reliability. The Central Bluffs Substation project will modernize our infrastructure for sustainability, system resiliency and reliability.

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Continental Hoosier System Project

Continental Hoosier System Project

The goal of the Continental-Hoosier System Project is to improve the resiliency, redundancy and efficiency of this important part of our water system. The goal of the Continental-Hoosier System Project is to improve the resiliency, redundancy and efficiency of this important part of our water system. The goal of the Continental-Hoosier System Project is to improve the resiliency, redundancy and efficiency of this important part of our water system.

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Smart meters

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Upgraded meters allow two-way communication between your home or business and our systems. Upgraded meters allow two-way communication between your home or business and our systems. Upgraded meters allow two-way communication between your home or business and our systems.

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Monument Creek stabilization project

Monument Creek stabilization project

Our work to stabilize a section of Monument Creek is complete! Critical wastewater infrastructure that lies beneath the creek bed is now protected. Our work to stabilize a section of Monument Creek is complete! Critical wastewater infrastructure that lies beneath the creek bed is now protected. Our work to stabilize a section of Monument Creek is complete! Critical wastewater infrastructure that lies beneath the creek bed is now protected.

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