The Trump administration’s energy agency has ordered one of three generating units at a Colorado power plant to remain available for operation amid an impending shutdown of the station and its supplying coal mines.

The move is one of the latest attempts by the White House to revive coal production in the U.S. following President Donald Trump’s promise to “unleash” American energy.

In Colorado, Democrats and their allies have prioritized moving away from fossil-fired energy in favor of solar and wind power in their campaign to get to net “zero” carbon emissions in a few decades, arguing it is good for people’s health and the environment. Republicans and others have argued that the transition is happening too quickly, with little regard for jobs lost at coal mines and plants and leading to ever-increasing energy prices.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, who is from Colorado, issued the emergency directive under section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act.

The order requires Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and co-owners to maintain the readiness of the unit at the Craig Generating Station until March 30, 2026, citing shortages of electric energy and generation facilities across the Western Electricity Coordinating Council Northwest region.

The order thrusts northwest Colorado’s coal country back into the national debate over climate change and energy reliability, delaying a long-planned shift away from fossil-fired energy. Under the weight of that direction, residents in the region have been weighing economic survival and the environmental imperatives.

In a statement, Gov. Jared Polis criticized the federal intervention.

“This order will pass tens of millions in costs to Colorado rate payers, in order to keep a coal plant open that is broken and not needed,” Polis said. “Ludicrously, the coal plant isn’t even operational right now, meaning repairs — to the tune of millions of dollars — just to get it running, all on the backs of rural Colorado ratepayers!”

The targeted unit faces mechanical problems. Its retirement had been set for Wednesday.

Craig evolved from a quiet agricultural town with unpaved roads and home to some 2,500 residents in the 1930s to a coal-dependent community of more than 9,000.

Neil McCandless, a 94-year-old resident and veterinarian for over 50 years, recalled the town’s early days in an interview with The Denver Gazette.

“When I was a boy — my dad ran a newspaper — I could walk down there in the evenings and not see a car except parked along the road,” he said a few months ago.

“Nothing driving, no streets were paved — a little sleepy town,” McCandless said.

Meanwhile, the Colowyo Mine near Craig, a primary supplier to the plant, will end operations this month. Owners have already notified 133 workers of layoffs effective Jan. 6, 2026.

Moffat County anticipates 437 job losses and a 43% drop in property tax revenue from the mine closure, intensifying hardships in a region where towering smokestacks have long dominated the arid landscape and defined livelihoods.

Will Toor, executive director at Colorado Energy Office, also criticized the order from the U.S. Energy Department.

“This order makes absolutely no sense and will increase utility bills for Coloradans,” Toor said.

Environmental advocates argued the decision favors a struggling industry at the expense of health and progress.

Michael Hiatt, deputy managing attorney with Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountain Office, said in a news release that keeping the plant online harms communities and boosts costs.

“This unlawful order will benefit no one but the struggling coal industry,” Hiatt said.

Ulla Reeves, clean air program director for the National Parks Conservation Association, said in a news release that the plant affects national parks.

“This coal plant emits dirty air and haze pollution that harm our beloved Southwest national parks like Rocky Mountain and many others,” Reeves said. “Its closure will mean cleaner air for parks and people and we are deeply disappointed by the effort by this administration to order it to stay online past its planned retirement deadline.”

Duane Highley, Tri-State chief executive, pledged compliance in a statement released to the media.

“Tri-State has a policy of 100% compliance, and we will work with Unit 1 co-owners, and federal and state governments to determine the most cost-effective path to that end,” Highley said.

EPA data show that Colorado actually met the updated Particulate Matter 2.5 standards statewide, including park-adjacent areas, prompting the Air Quality Control Commission to recommend attainment status in January 2025.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, a Republican representing the district including Moffat County, said in comments to POWER Magazine that state policies have hurt working families.

“Colorado needs energy policy rooted in facts, reliability, and respect for the people who keep the lights on, not mandates written to satisfy political pressure from activists and Denver bureaucrats,” Hurd said.

In the same magazine, Craig Mayor Chris Nichols said the order offers short-term benefits for jobs.

“It’s great for the community to keep those jobs active, even for a short period,” Nichols said.

Dennis Hisey, a former legislator, has long opposed such closures in interviews with The Denver Gazette, arguing they eliminate good-paying jobs without viable replacements.

“You’re just not going to retrain coal miners … to work in the tourism industry,” Hisey said.

He advocated for small modular nuclear reactors as alternatives in interviews.

“Replace good paying jobs with good paying jobs,” Hisey told The Denver Gazette.

Craig leaders have sought to diversify the region’s economy through industrial parks, rail infrastructure, and recreation. The community has secured $70 million in state assistance over the past decade.

While the coal era fades, life in Craig continues with new energy investments, officials have said.

Tri-State plans a 145-megawatt Axial Basin Solar project, a 307-megawatt natural gas facility, and a 200-megawatt energy storage facility.

Lee Boughey, a Tri-State spokesperson, said in a statement that the cooperative remains committed to the region.

“As Craig Station fully retires in 2028, Tri-State will maintain investment in Moffat County,” Boughey said. “We intend to continue our long-standing involvement and commitment to northwest Colorado.”