Colorado Senate Backs 3-Year Delay for Colorado Springs Coal Plant Closure

Overview

• The state Senate passed SB 182 to move the Ray D. Nixon coal plant’s shutdown from the end of 2029 to the end of 2032, sending the bill to a House committee with the session ending May 13.
• Colorado Springs Utilities says it cannot secure enough steady replacement power in time and argues a short extension will protect reliability and keep customer bills down.
• The compromise requires the utility to plan for a 95% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and to report on progress under added monitoring.
• Key environmental groups, including the Colorado Sierra Club, called the deal a major improvement over the original proposal and said they will not actively oppose it.
• SB 182 replaces an earlier push to allow coal through 2040 and tracks with wider reliability concerns, as the U.S. Energy Department ordered Tri-State’s Craig Unit 1 to run past its planned 2025 closure.