US Department of Energy granted $1.18m in funding for the modernization project was granted under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act with the total cost of the project pegged at $5.16m.
The modernization included replacement of one of two pre-existing 10MW turbine with a new 5MW turbine to generate up to 583MWh of electricity over ts 50year life span.
Commenting on the modernization director of public works for utilities Jeff Arthur remarked that the upgrade of the turbines was arduous and complex.
The BCH facility was originally built by the Central Colorado Power Company for hydroelectric power production as part of the BCH System and delivered water for Boulder’s municipal water supply in the 1950s.
Over the years, the system was owned and operated by numerous companies, and in 2001, the City of Boulder purchased the system incorporated it into its hydroelectric program.
"Obviously, the city was concerned with continuing operations at the facility, increasing power generation, and improving safety, but equally as important, was preserving the historical significance of the plant itself," added Arthur.
