Residents may notice extra steam, which may be mistaken for smoke, coming from the Birdsall Power Plant in north Colorado Springs. The steam is more visible in colder weather and is generated from its cooling towers. The plant is located at 213 Nichols Boulevard by N Nevada Avenue and E Fillmore Street.

Customers are urged to not call 911 to report an emergency at the plant as this is part of normal operations.

This extra steam visibility is because the power plant is being operated more than normal by Colorado Springs Utilities while ongoing planned maintenance is being conducted at its Front Range Power Plant.

Steve Berry with Colorado Springs Utilities says the Front Range Power Plant, which is adjacent to the Ray Nixon Plant in Fountain, is undergoing normal maintenance which is expected to be completed by the beginning of January 2025. The Front Range power plant uses natural gas to generate electricity.

He also says power plants are taken offline during off-peak times which can shift increased usage to the other nearby ones.