Overview
- Issued late Dec. 30, the order arrived one day before Craig Unit 1’s scheduled Dec. 31 retirement and requires the unit to remain available through March 30, 2026, with potential extensions.
- DOE invoked Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, citing a looming reliability emergency from plant retirements and rising demand, and directed the unit to be available to operate.
- Tri-State says Unit 1 has been out of service since Dec. 19 due to a valve failure and is evaluating repairs, operations, and fuel needs to comply, with cooperative members likely to bear costs.
- Gov. Jared Polis and state energy officials argue the unit is unnecessary for reliability and warn of major rate impacts, with a Grid Strategies analysis estimating about $20 million for 90 days and roughly $85 million for a year at recent output.
- Environmental groups label the action unlawful and point to Colorado regulators’ finding that Craig 1 is not required for resource adequacy, noting it is the latest in a series of DOE orders keeping retiring fossil plants available.