Telluride Energy LLC
PO Box 1646 , Telluride, , United States

For each project, Telluride Energy assembles a team which is optimized for the project site including engineering, legal, environmental and construction professionals.

Telluride has played an integral part in the history of small hydro.Located just south of Telluride on the San Miguel River, the 3.5 MW Ames Hydroelectric Plant was built in 1891.   It was the first powerplant in the world to generate, transmit and sell alternating current electricity for commercial purposes.

Located at the end of the Telluride box canyon, Bridal Veil Power Station (pictured at top right) was built in 1904 to supply power to a local mine and is still in operation.  

Ouray Hydro Project

Bob Risch, mayor of the mountain community of Ouray, Colorado realized that an abandoned water supply pipeline created an opportunity to save money for the City and offset the electricity load for the nearby City-owned Hot Springs Pool. With support from a $30,000 grant from the Colorado Governor's Energy Office, the City completed installation of a 20-kilowatt hydro plant. The plant utilizes a recycled Pelton turbine manufactured in 1909.

Silverton Hydro Project

The San Juan County Historical Society, based in Silverton, Colorado, built an 11-kilowatt hydro plant utilizing excess water flow available from an existing water supply pipeline to the historic Mayflower Mill. The project utilizes a recycled railroad building as a powerhouse. During the summer, the powerhouse building will also serve as a museum of the history of hydropower in the San Juan Mountains.

Humphreys Hydro Project

Ruthie Brown built a 310-kilowatt hydro plant utilizing head created by an existing 90-foot-tall concrete arch dam at Humphreys Ranch near Creede, Colorado. The project was completd with support from a $300,000 grant from the USDA and utilizing recycled pipe for the penstock.

Tri-County Water Hydro Project

Tri-County Water Conservancy District built an 8-megawatt hydro plant at Ridgway Dam near Ridgway, Colorado. The project was awarded $15,000,000 in low-interest (two percent) financing from the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority and the Colorado Water Conservation Board.

Pueblo Dam Hydro Project

The Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, working in partnership with Colorado Springs Utilities and the Board of Water Works of Pueblo, Colorado has applied to the Bureau of Reclamation requesting a Lease of Power Privilege to develop a 7-megawatt hydro plant at the outlet of Pueblo Dam.