How you can take action against a coal plant in Colorado
In December 2025, the U.S. The Department of Energy passed the Federal Power Act including section 202(c) which is forcing the Craig Unit 1 Coal Plant in Craig, Colorado to remain operational until March 30th, 2026. The order is addressing an “energy emergency” based on increasing demand and a “shortage from accelerated retirement of generation facilities" though the DOE did not sufficiently show reasoning for the emergency status of this order.
Craig Unit 1 is partially owned by Tristate, SMPA’s wholesale provider. This will directly impact the cost to SMPA, our local utility provider, of purchasing power from Tristate, which could affect your local energy costs.
This order is part of a broader push from the Trump administration to keep coal power plants operational and prevent the transition to renewable energy sources. The order for Craig to keep operating will expire on March 30th, 2026 but could be renewed after that.
This is where you come in! Hurd endorsed this act arguing that the closure of Craig was driven by ideology, not economic reasoning.
Your voice can make a difference! Please take 5 minutes to send a letter to his office requesting that he push back against this order that is placing the burden of millions of dollars on our local ratepayers!
You can view more information, including a letter template that you can hit send on, HERE.