Elk Ridge Mining and Reclamation
About
Elk Ridge Mining and Reclamation, LLC. is a subsidiary of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, headquartered in Westminster, Colo. Tri-State is a not-for-profit wholesale electric power supplier owned by 45 members, including 42 utility members that it serves across nearly 200,000 square-miles in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.
The organization was formed in 1992 to coordinate mining operations for Tri-State at the newly-developed New Horizon Mine near Nucla, Colo. Today, Elk Ridge Mining and Reclamation, LLC. continues to manage and operate the now retired New Horizon Mine, as well as Colowyo Mine near Meeker, Colo.
Colowyo Mine
Colowyo Mine is one of two fuel suppliers to Tri-State's Craig Station. The mining operation is located about 10 miles north of Meeker, Colo. - approximately 25 miles from the power plant.
The mine was originally developed in 1978. Elk Ridge Mining and Reclamation, LLC. purchased the mine from Rio Tinto Energy in 2011.
One of the state's largest surface coal production operations, Colowyo Mine and its staff of more than 200 employees produce over two million tons of low sulfur, subbituminous coal annually from a 29,000-acre permitted site. Personnel at the mine use both draglines and truck and shovel operations for removing the overburden and extracting the coal.
The coal is extracted, crushed and transported to an on-site rail head, where it is shipped by train to Craig Station's load-out facilities. Approximately five trains, pulling 50 or more 120-ton railcars, make weekly deliveries to the power plant.
New Horizon Mine
New Horizon Mine was developed in 1993 as a fuel resource to Tri-State's recently acquired Nucla Station. The mining operation was located about five miles from the now-retired power plant, outside the town of Nucla, Colo.
The mine ceased coal production in 2017, and delivered its last coal to Nucla Station in 2018. Nucla Station was retired from service in 2019. New Horizon Mine is completing major reclamation activities.