Colorado Groups Fight to Keep Coal Retirement on Track

After years of careful planning by Colorado utilities and communities, a scheduled coal plant retirement is getting a second chance at moving forward.

Environmental groups filed a legal challenge this week against a federal emergency order that halted the retirement of Unit 1 at Craig Station. The plant was set to close on December 31, but a last-minute Department of Energy order extended its life by 90 days.

The challenge comes from Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund, GreenLatinos, Vote Solar, and Public Citizen. These organizations argue there's no actual energy emergency requiring the aging plant to stay open.

What makes this situation unusual is that nobody in Colorado asked for the extension. The plant's co-owners, state regulators, and local utilities all confirmed that retiring Craig would lower costs and improve air quality without threatening the power grid.

The numbers tell a compelling story about why communities wanted this transition. Grid Strategies estimates that keeping the plant running could cost customers $20 million over 90 days, potentially reaching $85 million annually. Those costs will likely appear on electricity bills across Colorado and neighboring states.

The plant itself wasn't even operational when the emergency order arrived. Craig Unit 1 was broken at the time, having suffered a mechanical failure in December. This reliability issue reflects a broader pattern, as coal plants experience more unplanned outages than any other tracked power source.

The Bright Side

Colorado's careful planning shows how communities can successfully transition to cleaner energy. Utilities, regulators, and residents spent years creating a roadmap that prioritized both reliability and affordability. Their groundwork remains solid, even as this legal challenge plays out.

The groups have asked the DOE to reconsider within 30 days. If that doesn't work, they're prepared to take the case to court. Their goal is simple: let the community-driven plan move forward as intended.

Similar challenges are emerging in Michigan, Indiana, and Washington, where other coal plants received unexpected extensions. These coordinated efforts suggest growing momentum for letting local energy decisions stay local.

Communities across America are proving that cleaner energy and lower bills can go hand in hand.