EPA reasserts control over Colorado’s coal phaseout amid grid concerns

By Michael Booth | Colorado Sun

Colorado Springs Utilities is already considering delays to a closure scheduled for 2029, while governor says state is moving beyond coal

Trump administration rollbacks of key state anti-pollution policies continued this week, with the EPA telling Colorado it can’t set deadlines for coal power plant closures under Clean Air Act rules.

Colorado Springs Utilities is already using the ruling to consider extending its Nixon 1 unit in Fountain past a planned December 2029 closure, and environmental groups decried the EPA ruling as a “shocking” warning of looming assaults on anti-pollution laws.

“There’s every reason to be concerned that this proposal could be the opening salvo of a broader attack on Colorado’s efforts to move away from costly and dirty coal,” said Jeremy Nichols of the Center for Biological Diversity. “This is a major slap in the face to the state’s ability to protect clean air on its terms.”

Colorado Springs Utilities said it has not officially changed the date of closing Nixon 1, which is one of six remaining coal-fired power plants in Colorado scheduled to shut down entirely by 2031. But the EPA’s decision notice in the Federal Register said CSU wants flexibility on Nixon because it can no longer assure the opening of cleaner alternatives by 2029.

“The EPA notes that at least one of the sources slated for closure in the SIP — Nixon Unit 1 — has expressly stated that it does not consent to closing by the enforceable deadline,” the EPA’s Federal Register notice says.

“Moving forward with the 2029 date poses serious reliability challenges and we are in discussions with the state on how best to address this,” a CSU spokesperson said in written responses to questions about Nixon. “ We are seeking a smart energy transition at a pace that makes sense given the current challenges around cost and reliability … choosing to include Nixon could present serious reliability challenges for Colorado Springs Utilities. Our goal is to maintain system reliability and affordability, while finding a suitable retirement date for Nixon.”

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