Skip to main content
Home
  • About Us
    • Annual Report
  • Powering the Future
    • Our Energy Mix
  • Electrify and Save®
    • On-Bill Repayment
    • Programs
    • Quality Install
  • Media
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Features
    • News
    • Newsletter
    • Podcast
  • Cooperative Benefits
  • Operations
  • Search
Menu

Search form

Tri-State G&T is a rural electric cooperative power supplier.

Celebrating 60 years of reliable power generation

September 19, 2019

When a person retires, we celebrate all they’ve accomplished over their career. This week we’re retiring a power plant, and I’d like to mark the event with the same spirit of celebration.

Nucla Station completed its final run last week and came offline at 9:19 a.m. on 9/9/19. Over the few days Nucla Station was physically disconnected from the grid and today, 9/19/19, Nucla Station is officially retired from service. When making megawatts is what you do, it’s hard to close a power plant. But it’s about much more than just the physical plant – everything that’s been accomplished at Nucla Station over the years is about the people. 

When I joined Tri-State 15 years ago, one of the things that stood out to me was the pride our employees take in their work. We have people who’ve been with the company for 40 years or more, because they’re that committed to the importance of the work we do.

The Nucla team shows that commitment every day. The team has made it their focus over the years to not only operate and maintain the plant efficiently and safely, but to bring the kind of teamwork to their job every day that makes work enjoyable. 

They’ve taken on challenges and have led the way for new technology in our industry. Nucla Station was the world’s first utility-scale power plant constructed using circulating fluidized bed boiler technology (CFB). One of the advantages of that technology was its ability to burn a wide range of fuels efficiently. The combustion process also controlled emissions without the need for external emissions controls. 

When Tri-State acquired Colorado-Ute Electric Association in 1992, we became the owner and operator of Nucla Station. Tri-State saw the value of the facility and invested in improvements to help increase efficiency and reliability. We also secured a fuel source for the plant through the New Horizon Mine, also located in Nucla.

Nucla played a key role in our ability to provide reliable, affordable, responsible power for decades. When the decision was made to close the plant, it was not one that was taken lightly. We’re in a complex industry, and as we plan for the future of Tri-State, there are a lot of factors that play into what our generation portfolio will look like. 

We announced in 2016 that we would be moving toward the closure of Nucla Station, and we’re now at the point where we transition from generating power to decommissioning the plant. But the spirit of the work is the same – the team is taking a thoughtful and diligent approach to this task. Even though they’re not making megawatts, the work of this team is hugely valued in the responsible closure of the plant over the coming months.

We’re also committed to supporting the community in the years to come, with $500,000 in funds being provided over the next five years for economic development initiatives. It’s been our honor to be an employer in the community for 27 years.

Nucla Station was originally built in 1959, so we’re celebrating the 60 successful years the plant was in operation. We’re also celebrating the role this plant has played in the community over those years, the model of innovation that it has been, but most importantly the dedication of the people who have worked days and nights to keep the lights on. My gratitude for their commitment cannot be adequately expressed in words. 

Barry Ingold, Senior Vice President Generation

Contributor:

Barry Ingold, Senior Vice President Generation

Blog Posts

Lineworker Appreciation Day

Lineworker Appreciation Day 2020

Lineworker Appreciation Day, April 13th is a celebration of the linemen, substation and telecommunication technicians that keep our infrastructure powering homes, schools and communities.
Ruth Marks, Senior Manager Transmission Maintenance
Read more >
unusual technologies in green energy

6 Unusual Technologies Emerging in Clean Energy

Green technology inventions are revolutionizing the way we generate energy, recycle consumer goods and live more sustainably, but not all environmental advancements are as practical as wind farms and solar energy. From groundbreaking technologies, we develop practical applications that can lead us into a cleaner future and here are 6 unusual technologies emerging in clean energy today.
Matt Fitzgibbon, Beneficial Electrification Manager
Read more >
Stay at Home Energy Saving Tips

Energy Conservation Tips While You and The Kids #StayAtHome

Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association continues to monitor the impacts of COVID-19 across its member service area. As the pandemic impacts our member communities, we understand the potential for increasing financial struggles facing consumers as schools and businesses close. With more kids and parents staying home from school and work, there will be an influx of daily energy use. Here are tips and suggestions to lower your energy consumption while staying at home.
Myles Jensen, Senior Manager Member Relations
Read more >
rooftop solar tips

Read This Before Investing In Rooftop Solar

Rooftop solar panels are becoming increasingly popular across the USA. In fact, according to the Solar Market Insight Report, the U.S. solar market surpassed 2 million installations in Q1 of 2019 – just three years after the market surpassed the 1 million installation milestone. The industry is expected to hit 3 million installations in 2021 and 4 million installations in 2023.
Peter Rusin, Member Relations Manager
Read more >
3 Energy Conservation

3 Energy Conservation Tips You Can't Afford to Miss

In every home in America, money is spent on energy consumption. With the average electricity spend per year at $1,368.36, and in some cases, about 35% of the electricity used is actually wasted. Whether you use electricity, propane or natural gas as an energy source, there are ways to conserve and reduce your power bills for heating, air conditioning, lighting, and water heating.
Myles Jensen, Senior Manager Member Relations
Read more >
Reasons Why You Should Buy an Electric Vehicle

5 Reasons Why You Should Buy an Electric Vehicle in 2020

You'll never be without charging station info with handy apps such as PlugShare to find nearby charging stations. But if you're still on the fence about whether or not to buy an electric vehicle, here are 5 reasons why you should.
Matt Fitzgibbon, Beneficial Electrification Manager
Read more >
10-ways-to-reduce-your-energy-consumption-and-energy-bill

10 Ways to Reduce Your Energy Consumption and Energy Bill

The first steps to reducing your electricity bill are to understand where you're using the most energy, and then look for ways to reduce the amount of energy you use.
Myles Jensen, Senior Manager Member Relations
Read more >

Pagination

  • First page« First
  • Previous page‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page   3
  • Page   4
  • Page   5
  • Page   6
  • Page   7
  • Page   8
  • Page   9
  • Page   10
  • Currently on page   11

Subscribe

* indicates required
Join our mailing list for
updates and member news.
 
 

Quick links

  • Leadership Team
  • Dark Fiber
  • Financials
  • Board Meetings
  • Member Tools
  • The Cooperative Difference
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Careers
  • Employee login

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association
Office: 303-452-6111
1100 West 116th Avenue
Westminster, CO 80234

Mailing address:
PO Box 33695
Denver, CO 80233-0695

©2025 Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. Power supplier to the rural west.

  • About Us
    • Annual Report
  • Powering the Future
    • Our Energy Mix
  • Electrify and Save®
    • On-Bill Repayment
    • Programs
    • Quality Install
  • Media
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Features
    • News
    • Newsletter
    • Podcast
  • Cooperative Benefits
  • Operations
  • Search