Time Machine Tuesday: The Electric Power Industry in Colorado

Back in 1938 the Colorado State Planning Commission and the Works Progress Administration undertook a study of the Development of the Electric Power Industry in Colorado 1916-1936, in order to “forecast the future” of the industry in Colorado, and because the use of hydropower was greatly expanding at this time, particularly as Colorado worked to recover from the effects of the Great Depression.  “There is no question that the state is going to enjoy in the near future, a program of irrigation development of tremendous magnitude.  Already one great project — the Colorado-Big Thompson — is under way.  Others will follow, some dealing with transmountain diversion and others with intrabasin development,” the authors wrote. This detailed document provides statistical data, graphs and charts, and other information on the development of hydroelectricity in Colorado, and provides a framework for the industry’s early development efforts.