Something cool for the Random Tracks:<br><br>The latest issue of Home Power magazine has an article about Aspen's hydro electric project.<br><br><br>It's interesting because the article makes the point that the most expensive part of a micro-hydro power plan is often the race stock into the plant. Aspen used their existing snow making pipes running down the mountain, to drive water into a micro hydro plant. <br>They expect to recoup their investment within 7 years.<br><br>I think the only thing they had to build was a shed for the power plant near their base.<br><br>Unfortunately, I don't think that they have the magazine online.<br><br><br>Here's an old related clip I found with Google:<br>>>>>>>>>>>>><br>Micro-Hydro Power Plant at Snowmass<br><br>Aspen Skiing Company introduced a micro-hydroelectric power plant at Snowmass in July 2004. The micro-hydro power plant, a first in the ski industry, uses the resort's existing snowmaking system to channel spring water runoff through a turbine, generating electricity. The system should generate 250,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually, which is comparable to powering 40 homes per year and preventing a half-million pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted. If this micro-hydro plant proves successful, ASC would replicate it at its other three ski areas with the potential to power 400 homes. <br>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><br><br>
