Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has signed into law a bill that creates a pathway for Colorado Springs Utilities to operate a coal-fired unit until Dec. 31, 2032.
“Thanks to the leadership of our CEO Travas Deal and local and state leaders, this legislation will help protect electric reliability and rate stability for our customers,” the public power utility said in a May 28 LinkedIn post.
The bill allows the Colorado public power utility to operate the coal-fired unit at the Ray Nixon Power Plant until the end of 2032. Under current state law, the utility had to retire this unit by the end of 2029.
The legislation also allows the utility to file a new Clean Energy Plan by the end of 2026 with the state.
Senate Bill 26-182 was developed through months of negotiations involving the Governor’s office, environmental stakeholders, business leaders and state energy officials, noted Deal in a May 11 post.
