U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on Dec. 31 issued an emergency order to keep a Colorado coal plant unit operational.
The order directs Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Platte River Power Authority, Salt River Project, PacifiCorp, and Xcel Energy, in coordination with the Western Area Power Administration—Rocky Mountain Region and Southwest Power Pool West, to take all measures necessary to ensure that Unit 1 at the Craig Station in Craig, Colorado is available to operate.
Unit 1 of the coal plant was scheduled to shut down at the end of 2025. “The reliable supply of power from the coal plant is essential for keeping the region’s electric grid stable. The order prioritizes minimizing electricity costs for the American people and minimizing the risk and costs of blackouts,” DOE said.
Craig Unit 1’s capacity is 427 megawatts.
The order is in effect beginning on December 30, 2025, and continues until March 30, 2026.
As a result of the order, retaining Unit 1 will likely require additional investments in operations, repairs, maintenance and, potentially, fuel supply, all factors increasing costs, Tri-State said.
Tri-State said it was continuing to review the order to determine how best to comply while limiting the costs to its members, and the impacts to its employees and operations.
