EPA Blocks Colorado's Coal Plant Shutdowns Over Grid Stability Concerns

Denver, Saturday, 10 January 2026.
On January 9, 2026, the EPA formally rejected Colorado’s regional haze reduction plan, which relied on the early retirement of coal-fired power plants. Signaling a regulatory pivot toward infrastructure stability, the agency determined that these facilities are critical for maintaining grid reliability amidst growing energy demands. This decision effectively halts the state’s decarbonization timeline, forcing Colorado to draft a new compliance strategy within two years or face a federally imposed plan. The ruling underscores the intensifying friction between state environmental mandates and the federal prioritization of energy security and baseload capacity.