In Glenwood Canyon, Xcel Energy’s Shoshone hydroelectric power plant could easily be described as a lifeline for the river and everything that depends on it.

On Tuesday, media representatives and others who were provided a tour of the Xcel Energy facility experienced the roaring sound of diverted river water charging down two penstocks and through twin spinning turbines. Those turbines turned generators that combined can create 15 megawatts of power, enough to provide power to about 15,000 homes.