Noah Rott, noah.rott@sierraclub.org, 406-214-1990
Josh Mogerman, jmogerman@nrdc.org, 312-651-7909
Denver, CO -- On Monday, April 18, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved a unanimous settlement in Tri-State Generation and Transmission’s Electric Resource Plan that says the company will retire all remaining in-state coal-fired generation by 2030, and aim to cut carbon pollution associated with its Colorado sales by at least 80 percent relative to a 2005 baseline.
After months of negotiations with nearly two dozen parties, the settlement decision became final on Monday. The settlement requires a just transition plan for workers and the community near the Craig 3 coal unit in northwest Colorado and commits Tri-State to model new gas units with a 20-year useful life -- a timeline more in line with the urgency of the climate crisis -- in Phase 2 of the proceeding later this year. The final retirement date for Craig 3 will be decided later in Phase 2 of the ERP, but it will not be later than the end of 2029.
While Tri-State's settlement is certainly good news for Colorado's air and climate goals, the wholesale electricity provider still imports coal power from out of state. The company owns just over a quarter of the Laramie River Station in Wyoming and all of Springerville Unit 3 in Arizona. The settlement agreement commits Tri-State to further evaluate its remaining coal fleet in the next resource plan.
"Colorado needs clean air and climate action now," Anna McDevitt, Senior Campaign Representative at Sierra Club said, "We’re glad to support Tri-State in taking the right steps to replace fossil fuels with cleaner, more affordable clean energy in our state. Next, it’s time to explore options for replacing the other half of Tri-State’s coal fleet in the West with clean energy."
“This settlement represents real progress in Colorado’s transition away from dirty energy—the state will breathe easier as a result,” said Noah Long, Western Energy Director at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Not only does this represent a huge reduction in air pollution, it sends a signal that Colorado is moving quickly to embrace clean energy, with all the jobs and economic activity that will follow.”
Tri-State sells wholesale power to 42 electric cooperatives scattered through Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and New Mexico.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.