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DENVER, CO – The House Energy and Environment Committee yesterday passed HB26-1226 to fight back against federal mandates that force coal plants set to retire to stay operational, which will drive up costs to ratepayers and derail Colorado’s clean energy future.
“Ratepayers shouldn’t bear the brunt of Trump’s politically-motivated attempt to bring inoperable and out-of-service coal plants back online,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “This robust bill pushes back against federal overreach that would derail Colorado’s climate goals and end up costing ratepayers more. Major stakeholders agree – from the Attorney General and environmental groups to the operators of the Craig Unit 1 power plant – forcing coal-plants to stay online will increase utility costs for Coloradans. This bill establishes authority for Colorado to plan our own energy future and help protect ratepayers from price hikes.”
“Ratepayers deserve to know how much propping up an aging, broken down coal-fired power plant will cost them on their utility bills,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood. “Trump’s politically-motivated use of an emergency order to keep an aging coal plant online in Northwest Colorado will cost Coloradans money on their utility bills and set back our climate goals. Colorado has made significant progress toward its climate goals, and this bill helps safeguard utilities, ratepayers and regulators so we can plan for our own energy future.”
HB26-1226 passed committee by a vote of 9-3. This bill protects Colorado’s utility consumers, air quality and clean energy goals. To safeguard Colorado’s environment, this bill helps to mitigate the impacts of federal interference in Colorado’s energy future, ensures energy reliability, and modernizes standards for coal plant pollution.
If a coal-fired plants are permitted to operate past 2030, this bill would:
Mandate that consumers and regulators are given information on the costs of keeping coal plants open, and give the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) financing tools to manage operating costs, minimizing the impact on ratepayers.
Ensure the PUC approves new resources for Colorado’s largest electric utilities to help Colorado reach our climate targets and retire coal plants on schedule.
Require that coal plants still in operation use modern pollution controls to reduce emissions and help Colorado reach its climate goals.
In addition to informing consumers about the cost impacts of keeping coal plants open past their retirement date, this bill also allows utility companies to use securitization as a financing tool if it lowers costs for ratepayers. This would include refinanced debt or long-term, low-interest bonds on large-scale projects to help lower costs for ratepayers now.
To reduce pollution, this bill would require the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) to issue a rule to set limits on the emission of NOx and SO2 from coal-fired power plants, unless those plants have retired or converted to burn a fuel other than coal. HB26-1226 would also require operators to submit quarterly emissions reports showing compliance beginning in 2030.
Last December, the Trump Administration issued a 202(c) emergency order to keep an aging coal-fired power plant in Craig operating, despite the plant's scheduled retirement in late 2025. This unprecedented order was challenged by the Colorado Attorney General and environmental groups late last month. Additionally, the owners of the coal power plant, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and the Platte River Power Authority filed a formal petition asking the U.S. Department of Energy to reconsider to “find a more effective and affordable path forward, one that will not delay retirement of Craig Unit 1.”