The US Department of Energy (DOE) has issued an emergency order requiring Unit 1 (446 MW) of the 1,427 MW Craig Station coal-fired power plant in Craig, Colorado (United States), to remain operational in order to support electricity supply during the winter period (US DOE, 30/12/2025). According to the DOE, the purpose of the order is to maintain grid reliability in the region, reduce the risk and impact of power outages, and limit electricity costs for consumers.
Unit 1, which entered service in 1980, was originally scheduled to shut down at the end of 2025. Craig Station comprises two additional units (Units 2 and 3, rated 446 MW and 535 MW, respectively) both slated for retirement in late September 2028.
The order applies to the plant’s operator, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, as well as its co-owners Platte River Power Authority, PacifiCorp, Salt River Project, and Xcel Energy. The directive took effect on 30 December 2025 and will remain in force until 30 March 2026, according to the official statement.