By Shannon Lukens.
The Tri-State Generation and Transmission Station in Craig is likely to stay open, according to an emergency order from Secretary Chris Wright with the Department of Energy. It has been ordered to stay available for operation until March 30, 2026. It’s to help prevent blackouts.
The Section 202-25-14 Order was issued at 7:08 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. That order is below.
The order says that an emergency exists due to the shortage of electric energy and the facilities to generate it, such as the electric generating facility in Craig. It says, “…that issuance of this Order will meet the emergency and serve the public interest.”
“This statutory language constitutes a specific grant of authority to the Secretary to require the continued operation of Craig Unit 1 when the Secretary has determined that such continued operation will best meet an emergency caused by a sudden increase in the demand for electric energy or a shortage of generation capacity.”
The law only allows for 90-day increments, so it could be extended past March 30.
Craig Unit 1 was scheduled to close at the end of the year.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd posted on X, “It keeps reliable, dispatchable power available when the grid needs it, protects good-paying jobs, and strengthens Colorado’s energy infrastructure at a time when demand is rising and the grid is under strain.”
- Rep. Jeff Hurd’s Full Comment on X
- U.S. Department of Energy Press Release — Energy Secretary Ensures Colorado Coal Plant Remains Open to Prevent Blackouts
- Colorado Sun — Tri-State expects federal order to keep coal-fired power plant in northwestern Colorado running
