Show Moon Lake Electric delays Rangely reservoir project Moon Lake Electric Association General Manager Merrill Millett announced ed recently at a Chamber meeting In Rangely that tha t his firm was not In a position to make an announcement announcement announcement an an- on the starting date te for lor the proposed Rangely Reservoir Millett Millen along with Roland noland C C. Fisher general manager for lor the Colorado River Water Conservancy District were the two primary speakers at the meeting concerning the reservoir Millett confirmed that originally It was his belief bellel that a firm announcement on the starting starling date could be made In early April SEVERAL OI OFFICIALS from Moon Lake Electric Association were present and despite the lack of a firm linn announcement did present some interesting facts concerning the proposed Rangely Power Plant They stated that the plant would be located approximately 10 miles cast of Rangely near the old Gordon Staley-Gordon Coal Mine It will willbe willbe willbe be a fired coal-fired thermal power plant and will produce between and 1000 megawatts the size depending on the availability of water and coal The plant would require approximately approximately approximately ap ap- ap- ap proximately acre feet of water annually for Cor the production of 1000 megawatts The total cost will be approximately approximately approximately ap ap- ap- ap proximately 4 million During construction the project would employ to 1000 workers with the plant to be built in units of or over possibly a year ten-year period After the plant is finished it will employ more than coal miners plus an additional 65 permanent plant workers Plans are proceeding for cooperative financing on the project Millett pointed out that even if a firm announcement had been made at the dinner meeting it would still take approximately 18 to 24 months for Cor necessary environmental studies Despite present studies on alternative sites Moon Lake officials reaffirm their belief Inthe in inthe inthe the feasibility for a Rangely Reservoir and hope that construction construction construction con con- can begin by 1978 with the plant to become operational by 1981 THE TIIE OTHER primary spokesman Roland Fisher presented an Interesting talk on the background of 01 the Rangely Reservoir Project as well as general Information on the function of his organization Founded In 1937 1931 the Colorado River Water Conservancy District covers 28 percent of the state of Colorado and serves a population of 01 approximately It is primarily a Western Colorado Water Board Fisher stated slated that the Colorado River and its tributaries are the most controlled controlled controlled con con- trolled river system in the world He lie pointed out that the State of Colorado can only use about one-fourth one of the Colorado Rivers River's water anywhere In the state Despite present river water problems Fisher indicated indicated in in- that it was his belief that sufficient water was available for the Rangely Reservoir and his organization is ready and able to back such a project |