Colorado's governor and top state agencies are opposing an EPA proposal to rescind 2024 carbon pollution standards for coal-fired power plants. The state has five coal units left, most scheduled to close by 2031, though Xcel Energy and Colorado Springs Utilities have asked to keep some running longer to meet rising demand. Xcel says it has cut emissions from electricity generation 58% since 2005. The EPA argues the Clean Air Act does not give it authority to shape energy choices and claims the repeal would save energy companies over $310 billion. It also issued a statement saying CO2 from power plants has no meaningful climate impact, a claim at odds with the power sector being the second-largest U.S. source of greenhouse gases. Colorado's attorney general and environmental groups are already challenging a separate DOE emergency order that forced Tri-State to keep Craig Station Unit 1 running. The outcome matters beyond Colorado. If the federal rules are rolled back, state-level climate goals and utility resource plans become the main defense against coal plant retirements, and reliability concerns will shape how fast the transition actually happens.
