The Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade announced Wednesday new Coal Transition Community grants to fund projects that will diversify local economies and create new jobs in Moffat County through the development of hydropower. A $150,000 dollar grant awarded to Moffat County will fund a study to assess the socio-economic impact of a $1.5 billion dollar pumped storage hydropower project. The project is part of the County’s efforts to diversify the local economy ahead of the closure of Craig Station, a coal-fired power plant that will cease operations by 2028. “This project will create new opportunities for workers in the community and support Moffat County’s economy now and in the future. The socio-economic study will help with an important step in the permitting process, and it will help the community make the most of this economic opportunity,” explains OJT Director Wade Buchanan. The proposed pumped storage hydropower project will consist of two artificial water reservoirs southeast of Craig, Colorado. Water will be stored in the upper reservoir and released, as needed, to produce electricity. The system will act like a giant battery, with a generating and pumping capacity of 600 megawatts. Construction time is estimated to be five to six years and is expected to generate over 300 construction-related jobs and many permanent jobs.
