Overview
- The EPA on Jan. 9 disapproved Colorado’s 2022 regional haze plan, saying the state prioritized mandating coal retirements over statutory requirements and starting a two-year deadline for a revised plan or an EPA-imposed federal plan.
- Regulators flagged Colorado Springs Utilities’ Nixon Unit 1, saying the planned nonconsensual 2029 closure raises potential takings issues and could jeopardize grid reliability.
- The Department of Energy last month ordered Tri-State’s Craig Station Unit 1 to operate through March 2026 to support grid stability, prompting repairs to a unit previously slated for retirement.
- Colorado officials and environmental groups condemned the federal decisions as political and unlawful, warning of higher costs and signaling legal and administrative challenges.
- EPA leaders argue Colorado can meet visibility goals without mandated closures and contend coal units remain important for affordable, reliable power.