The coal-fired Craig Station power plant is operated by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.
Colorado air regulators won’t accelerate the closure of coal power plants after all.
On Wednesday, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission voted to reverse an earlier plan to close three coal units by 2029, a year ahead of voluntary plans from power companies. The about-face followed objections from utilities and the Colorado Energy Office, which is coordinating Gov. Jared Polis’ efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The move came as an immediate disappointment to environmental groups. Matt Gerhart, an attorney for the Sierra Club, said the decision shows state leaders are too hesitant to move on from coal power.
Drake Power Plant downtown will operate for only a few more years. File photo
The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) reversed Dec. 16 its previous decision to accelerate the retirements of three Colorado coal units by 2028.
One of those is Colorado Springs Utilities Nixon Power Plant 10 miles south of the city. The downtown Drake Power Plant is slated for decommissioning in 2023.
The AQCC on Nov. 30 had required utilities to retire several coal and gas plants by Dec. 31, 2028, including Nixon.
The reversal comes in response to a motion by Xcel Energy, Tri-State G&T, Colorado Springs Utilities and Platte River Power Authority.
The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission voted Dec. 16 to reverse a previous decision to accelerate by a year the retirement of the Ray Nixon Power Plant in Colorado Springs and two other Colorado coal-fired units.
The commission, which oversees Coloradoâs air quality program, gave preliminary approval Nov. 20 to Coloradoâs Regional Haze Plan, which the state is required to submit to the Environmental Protection Agency by July 2021.
The plan would have required Colorado Springs Utilities to retire the Nixon plant no later than December 31, 2028, in order to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets.
CSUâs integrated resource plan, approved in June, calls for retiring the Nixon plant in 2030. The decision did not affect CSUâs plan to retire the Martin Drake Power Plant in 2023.
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Northern Water
A United States District Court judge has ruled in favor of the Windy Gap Firming Project, clearing the way for construction of Chimney Hollow Reservoir near Berthoud. This ruling should also make it possible to move forward with environmental mitigation and enhancements related to the project, including construction of the Colorado River Connectivity Channel near Granby.
Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich dismissed a 2017 lawsuit filed by environmental groups led by Save the Colorado against the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers. The ruling holds that those federal agencies complied with federal law in issuing a Record of Decision that authorizes the Windy Gap Firming Project.