Hudson power plant plans finally under way

HUDSON — Increased demands on regional utilities in the summer of 2002 highlight the need for more electricity for a rapidly growing Northern Colorado, and some of that need will be met when a new power plant goes into operation.

The Rocky Mountain Energy Center, a 600-megawatt facility, will be built on a 630-acre site just east of Hudson in southern Weld County. It is expected to go on line in May 2004.

The $360 million power plant will be owned by Calpine, an energy-developing company based in San Jose, Calif. Xcel Energy, which supplies electricity to Greeley and several other Weld…