The Trump administration has ordered a Colorado coal plant to remain on standby amid claims of an energy emergency. This decision targets Craig Station's Unit 1, scheduled for closure at year's end, despite state assessments deeming it unnecessary for grid reliability. The move highlights ongoing efforts to prop up coal amid economic and environmental challenges.
On Tuesday, US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright directed that one unit at Craig Station in Colorado must stay available, citing a shortage of generating capacity as the basis for the emergency order. The Department of Energy stated, “The reliable supply of power from the coal plant is essential for keeping the region’s electric grid stable.” However, Colorado’s Public Utilities Commission had previously concluded that “Craig Unit 1 is not required for reliability or resource adequacy purposes,” according to analysis by the Colorado Sun.
The order, issued under the Federal Power Act, does not mandate electricity production but requires the unit to be ready for potential shortfalls. Operating the plant could breach Colorado regulations on airborne pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Maintenance costs are expected to burden local ratepayers, who had planned for the closure.
This action fits a pattern under the Trump administration, which has declared 16 energy emergencies in the past year—exceeding the total from 2008 to 2024. The rationale of anticipated future demand raises questions about compliance with the Act’s emergency criteria, which cover sudden increases or shortages, and require minimizing environmental harm while aligning with laws.
Coal generation remains costly, second only to nuclear, and poses severe health risks through pollution-linked deaths and toxic waste. Legal challenges are mounting: several states and environmental groups have sued, alleging misuse of powers through indefinite renewals, as seen with a Michigan plant kept open beyond its initial summer justification.
The two other units at Craig Station are slated for shutdown in 2028, underscoring the plant's phased retirement plans now disrupted by federal intervention.