Overview
- Attorney General Phil Weiser filed a petition in the D.C. Circuit on March 18 seeking to vacate the Department of Energy’s Dec. 30 order for Craig Unit 1 after an administrative appeal was denied.
- The initial federal order runs 90 days through March 30, and it remains unclear whether the agency will issue an extension.
- Colorado’s filing says keeping Craig Unit 1 available could cost Tri‑State up to $80 million through 2026 and conflicts with state plans to retire coal and replace it with gas and renewables.
- Tri‑State opposed restarting Craig Unit 1, noting the unit was down for repairs when the order arrived and was not slated to resume operations before retirement.
- DOE has issued similar reliability orders nationwide, and EIA data cited by EDF show at least one affected plant in Washington generated just 8 MWh in January and February as DOE extended its availability through mid‑June.