The Ames Hydro Power Plant: The First HV AC Transmission Anywhere
The Ames Hydro Power Plant: The First HV AC Transmission Anywhere
Al Schaffer, Retired PE
Pikes Peak Section Life Member
In 1888-90, the battle for the dominant form of electrical power was underway between Thomas Edison/GE and Nikola Tesla/Westinghouse in New York. In Colorado, the Gold King Mine was going bankrupt powering its Gold Mill with steam fueled by wood hauled by donkeys. Lucian Nunn, Telluride banker & investor in the Gold King Mine & brother, Paul Nunn, an engineer convinced Westinghouse to become the first Hydro power plant using AC generator, AC transmission line, and AC generators to operate the Gold King Mine operations. This presentation tells the story this first design, how equipment was delivered to Mine by the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, how the facility was built and 3KV transmission was run for 2.6 miles to the Gold Mill. After several iterations, the current Ames Power Plant has been operational since 1905 generating 3.6 MW of power.
The Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant was the IEEE Pikes Peak Section's first IEEE Milestone in 1988.
Date and Time
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- 604 North Tejon Street
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- United States 80903
- Building: Downtown Panino's
- Starts 03 December 2025 08:00 PM UTC
- Ends 12 December 2025 07:00 PM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Al Schaffer
The Ames Hydro Power Plant: The First HV AC Transmission Anywhere
Biography:
Al Schaffer holds a BS Physics, MSEE, and MS CS. He worked for Battelle Memorial Institute, Collins Radio, NCR, Digital Equipment Corporation, and HP/Agilient. He is a retired Professional Engineer (Ohio & Colorado).
Agenda
Networking & Lunch
Presentation
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