PUEBLO, Colo., October 20, 2020 — Black Hills Energy met with Cañon City officials recently to donate over $282,000 to the city from the sale of water rights from its W.N. Clark plant. Black Hills Energy presented a check for the donation amount to Cañon City Mayor Ashley Smith and Councilman John Hamrick at Centennial Park near the site of the former power plant. 

Black Hills Energy closed the coal-fired W.N. Clark power plant in 2012 and has been coal-free since then, generating 100 percent of its energy from natural gas, wind and solar. The water rights were sold to a local irrigation ditch company, to be used in agricultural purposes. 

"We are pleased the sale of these water rights returns this precious resource to a local, agricultural purpose," said Vance Crocker, vice president for Black Hills Energy utilities in Colorado. "Giving the proceeds from the sale back to this community makes this even more meaningful."

Black Hills Energy owns the land the former power plant was located on and continues discussion with Cañon City about donating the land for public use. This transaction would be separate from and in addition to the water rights sale donation. 

"We're thrilled to accept this gift from Black Hills Energy, which will benefit our entire community," said Mayor Smith. "We will allocate the money to a beautification project for the entire city to enjoy, such as developing an open space or a park."