In 1975, Platte River
anticipated the need for additional electric energy to supply its member
municipalities' (Estes Park, Fort Collins,
Longmont and Loveland, Colorado) load growth. Consideration was given
to all technologies with a focus on cost-effectiveness, capability to
become commercially operational in time to meet Platte River's
needs and compliance with environmental considerations.
After deciding that
the new generating facility would be coal-fired, Platte River began
in 1976 to search for a suitable
site. The site that
was eventually selected, located about 26 miles north of Fort Collins,
was found to be convenient for rail transportation and have low population
density, geology and terrain ideally suited for a cooling reservoir and
little potential for negative impact on existing land uses. The name
of the facility--Rawhide--was chosen because the site was located in
an area called "Rawhide Flats" on a U.S. Geological Survey
map.
On March 26, 1979, the site for the new Rawhide Energy Station was approved
through special review by the Larimer County Commissioners. Groundbreaking
took place on September 8, 1979. After the final air emissions permit
was received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, construction
of the Rawhide Energy Station began in May 1980. Erection of the power
plant structures commenced early in 1981. Initial testing of the station
started in December 1983 and commercial operation of the Rawhide Unit
1 coal-fired generator began March 31, 1984, one day ahead of schedule
and below budget.
By 1999, rapidly
increasing summer peak demand for electricity within Platte River's
owner municipalities created the need for a new generation resource.
To meet this need, three natural gas-fired
combustion
turbines were built and became commercially operational on the Rawhide
site in 2002.
An integral part of the operation of Units A, B and C, a 14.5-mile
pipeline was built to connect the Rawhide site with a regional hub
of existing
pipelines owned by natural gas providers.
Due to continued population growth and the associated increase in demand
for electricity, Rawhide Units D and F were added at the Rawhide
site and became commercially operational in 2004 and 2008, respectively.
Like units A, B and C, Unit D is a General Electric model EA. Unit
F is a
larger General Electric model FA natural gas-fired turbine.
