Cherokee
Cherokee is a natural gas plant in Adams County, Colorado, operated by Public Service Co of Colorado. It ranks fourth by nameplate capacity among Colorado’s 320 power plants. The operator has reported planned retirement dates for 381 MW of it, in 2028. Within the Public Service Company of Colorado balancing area it is the second-largest of 192 plants. Retired units here add up to 420 MW across 3 units, taken out of service between 2011 and 2015.
Nameplate capacity, 2025
1,006 MW
886 MW net summer capacity
4 operable units
- Gas combined cycle626 MW62%
- Gas steam turbine381 MW38%
Unit by unit, 1957 to 2025
operating in 2025retiredreported planned retirementbar height follows unit size
Among Colorado’s plants
Largest plants in the state by nameplate capacity, with the plants ranked next to this one.
- 1Craig (CO)1,428 MW
- 2Comanche (CO)1,253 MW
- 3Fort St Vrain1,148 MW
- 4Cherokeethis plant
- 5Rawhide800 MW
- 6Rocky Mountain Energy Center685 MW
Other rankings
- All US power plants
- 303rd of 14,286
- US natural gas plants
- 148th of 1,961
- Natural gas plants in Colorado
- 2nd of 29
- Plants run by Public Service Co of Colorado
- 3rd of 22
- Biggest single unit, among Colorado’s plants
- 6th of 320
Operable units
By the year its oldest working unit started, it is the second-oldest of Colorado’s 29 natural gas plants.
| Unit | Technology | Nameplate | Summer | Online | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Gas steam turbine | 381 MW | 310 MW | 1968 | Operating, retirement planned for 2028 |
| 5 | Gas combined cycle | 185 MW | 168 MW | 2015 | Operating |
| 6 | Gas combined cycle | 185 MW | 168 MW | 2015 | Operating |
| 7 | Gas combined cycle | 255 MW | 240 MW | 2015 | Operating |
Retired units
| Unit | Technology | Nameplate | In service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Coal steam | 125 MW | 1959–2011 |
| 1 | Coal steam | 125 MW | 1957–2012 |
| 3 | Coal steam | 170 MW | 1962–2015 |
Grid and site
- Balancing area
- Public Service Company of Colorado
- Reliability region
- Western Electricity Coordinating Council
- Highest grid connection voltage
- 115 kV
- Water source
- South Platte River
- Nearest town on record
- Denver
- Operator type
- Utility
- Coordinates
- 39.807°N, 104.965°W
Closest plants
| Plant | Runs on | Capacity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Wastewater Reclamation District | Biomass and waste | 15 MW | 0.5 mi east |
| TruStile Doors - Denver | Solar | 1.2 MW | 1.4 mi north |
| Amazon Denver DEN3 | Solar | 4.6 MW | 5.5 mi north |
| Mtn. Solar 4 (CSG) | Solar | 1.5 MW | 9.6 mi southwest |
| Panasonic Carport Solar Hybrid | Solar | 1.3 MW | 9.7 mi east |
| Arapahoe Combustion Turbine Project | Natural gas | 194 MW | 9.7 mi south |
| Jeffco Community Solar Gardens LLC | Solar | 1.2 MW | 10.5 mi west |
| Gaylord Rockies CHP | Natural gas | 4 MW | 11.4 mi east |