Reducing Emissions
What we are doing
- We’re committing to a 100% reduction in emissions from coal in New Mexico by closing Escalante Station by the end of 2020.
- We’re committing to a 100% reduction in emissions from coal in Colorado by closing Craig Station and the Colowyo Mine by 2030.
- We’re also committing to work with the Colorado General Assembly to achieve, by 2030 and relative to 2005 levels:
- A 90% reduction in CO2 emissions across the generation facilities we own or operate in Colorado, and
- A 70% reduction in CO2 emissions associated with Colorado wholesale electric sales.
- We’re committed to not adding more coal to our system.
Key Steps
- Retire Escalante Generating Station by the end of 2020.
- Retire Craig Station Unit 1 by the end of 2025.
- Retire Craig Station Units 2 & 3 and the Colowyo Mine by 2030.
- Cancel the Holcomb Station coal expansion project.
Our cooperative is working to shift our generation portfolio to cleaner energy sources to meet member demand, comply with environmental regulations in Colorado and New Mexico, and to respond to a changing energy landscape. We believe it is possible to provide reliable, affordable, responsible power to our members while implementing these emission reduction steps to meet broader public policy goals. With engagement and support from partners like the Colorado General Assembly and other natural resource stakeholders, we can achieve an efficient, cost-effective and equitable transition.
To learn more about how we are reducing emissions, download our Responsible Energy Plan.
Case Study: Collaboration in Action
As we developed our Responsible Energy Plan (REP) commitments, we collaborated with a diverse advisory group, facilitated by Colorado State University’s Center for the New Energy Economy (CNEE) and Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, on key elements regarding emission reductions.
This group included representatives from across the states Tri-State serves from academic, agricultural, cooperative, electric industry, environmental, rural, and state and local government groups. These advisors gathered to learn with us, share with us, challenge us, and roll up their sleeves to work with us on some of the details that will make our energy transition vision a reality. One outcome of the advisory group sessions was conceptual legislative language for Tri-State to bring to the Colorado General Assembly to create a law for rural electric cooperative wholesale providers, like us, to do what investor-owned retail utilities already can: implement a clean energy plan. This legislation will make it possible for us to:
- Achieve early and significant reductions in greenhouse gases,
- Create the certainty necessary for Tri-State and areas affected by the energy transition to better-manage the timing and impacts on employees and communities, and
- Comply with state laws in Colorado and New Mexico without affecting the jurisdiction of Nebraska and Wyoming.
To learn more about this engagement process, goals and outcomes, download the joint report Transitioning Tri-State.