Martin Drake Power Plant employees: the next chapter

One of the reasons Colorado Springs is the city it is today is because of the Martin Drake Power Plant. For nearly 100 years, this plant has generated safe and efficient power for a growing community.

We now must focus on the next 100 years. Our Sustainable Energy Plan is propelled by our vision to significantly reduce our carbon emissions, power our city with more renewable energy and storage technology and retire the Drake Power Plant by the end of 2022.

As we make this transition, we admire the dedication and hard work of all Drake employees now and in the past. We will build on their legacy as we move forward. That is why our CEO has pledged that no employee will lose their job in our pursuit of a sustainable energy future.

Hear firsthand from three former Drake employees who have successfully transitioned to new roles in the organization.

Josh

“Colorado Springs Utilities is a huge supporter of local veterans.”

Josh initially came to Colorado Springs when he joined the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Carson. He had heard our organization was a great place to work for veterans. So, when his service in the Army ended, it was a natural fit to start his next career with us.

“It’s a secure job once you are on.”

Having a stable job coming out of the military was a priority for Josh. He worked at the Martin Drake Power Plant for four years as a plant systems operator. When he heard Drake was in the process of being retired, he applied for a service technician job.

“Colorado Springs Utilities leadership kept their promise of keeping employees working through the transition.”

They provided job shadowing to anyone who wanted to learn about other positions in the organization. And if it was a good fit, you were encouraged to apply.

The Human Resources Department hosted résumé building classes for employees and even set up mock interviews.

“I was hired as a service line technician in January 2021 and I’ve received help every step of the way.”

Josh enjoyed the transition and opportunity to learn a new craft. He especially likes his newfound ability to travel around the city for his new job. He enjoys that it allows him to be outdoors and get fresh air while he helps restore power outages. Josh is excited to see what the future holds for the city.

Chris

“One of the beautiful things about Drake was that there was no ‘normal’ day to day.”

Chris moved to Colorado Springs in 2003 and while here, his friend gave him the idea to get a job

as a mechanic with us. Shortly after applying, Chris was hired as a mechanic at the Martin Drake Power Plant.

Chris enjoyed the fast-paced environment of working at Drake. There was always something that needed fixing. While working at Drake, he knew the plan all along was to decommission the plant – a decision that didn’t come lightly but was necessary. Knowing this, Chris was worried about everyone getting laid off, but the organization’s leadership stayed true to their values.

With the help of leadership, Chris was able to transition to a new job within the organization as a water pump mechanic at the Fountain Valley Authority water treatment plant.

“When this job came, I was really interested—it was screaming to me that it was in my wheelhouse.”

It is a whole different side of being a mechanic than he ever knew. He was shocked at how much work goes into getting water to his faucet. His new role is intriguing to him because he loves learning new things.

“Thinking about the future of the water and how it gets to our taps is exciting.”

Cameron

Cameron came to Colorado Springs initially to work in construction. However, he soon found a job as an operator at the Martin Drake Power Plant, which he felt was a great opportunity. He’s now been on board for five years.

He found the benefits were excellent and the community camaraderie made the big organization feel a lot smaller.

“I feel lucky that Colorado Springs Utilities allowed me to move positions.” When Cameron learned of the plans to retire the plant, he was able to job shadow and find a new position within the organization that was a good fit for him. Cameron transitioned into being a line tech and is excited about his new role given his prior interest in being in the field.

“Every day is a waterfall of knowledge. Every single day.”

Cameron is thankful; he was one of the first Drake employees to transition to a new job. He was offered a job shadowing experience which provided him a firsthand look into a new opportunity.

Now as a line tech, the most rewarding part of Cameron’s new job is helping restore power to customers during an outage. He is excited about continuing to learn the new ins and outs of his job and looks forward to the future in his new role.