La Plata Electric Association

Colorado River Hydropower System Strained by Shrinking Water Levels and Data Center Electricity Demand

Colorado's Aspinall Unit, a key hydropower system on the Gunnison River, is generating significantly less electricity due to shrinking river levels and climate change. This decline coincides with a surge in electricity demand from data centers, with federal regulators ordering faster grid connections for AI data centers. A Colorado bill to hold data centers accountable for energy use was killed, raising concerns about increasing strain on the state's power supply and rising consumer costs.