Colorado Air Quality Control Commission accepts Tri-State’s voluntarily announced retirement dates for Craig Station

• AQCC supports retirement of Craig Station Unit 3 by 2030, to help meet visibility goals.
• In separate process, Tri-State’s Electric Resource Plan filed with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission identifies 80% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030.

(December 16, 2020 – Westminster, Colo.) – Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association CEO Duane Highley commented on the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission’s (AQCC) reopening of the record in its proceedings on the Colorado State Implementation Plan that addresses visibility in national parks and wilderness areas, and its decision to adopt the amended proposal from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Air Pollution Control Division and several electric utilities, including Tri-State. 

“We applaud the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission for its reasoned decision to accept the plan submitted by state regulators, which includes our voluntarily announced retirement dates for Craig Station Units 2 and 3.

“The plan will meet or exceed federal requirements to improve visibility in our national parks and wilderness areas, and our voluntarily announced retirement dates for Craig Station Units 2 and 3 will be established in state law and will become federally enforceable with U.S. EPA approval. 

“In addition to supporting visibility, in a separate proceeding, Tri-State’s Electric Resource Plan filed with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) includes our preferred scenario with the retirement of Craig Station, the addition of 1,850 megawatts of renewable resources, and an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that supports state goals.

“The retirement of Craig Station by 2030 requires significant collaborative efforts by the owners of the plant, and local and state leaders, to help impacted communities prepare for what can be a just transition. The AQCC’s decision provides the certainty needed to move forward.”

Tri-State will retire Craig Station Unit 1 by Dec. 31, 2025; Craig Station Unit 2 by Sept. 30, 2028; and Craig Station Unit 3 by Dec. 31, 2029.

Separate from the proceedings at the AQCC, on Nov. 12, 2020, Tri-State and Gov. Polis announced the cooperative power supplier’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Colorado 80% by 2030 as part of its transformative Responsible Energy Plan, and to support statewide emissions reductions requirements. On Dec. 1, 2020, Tri-State filed its Electric Resource Plan (ERP) with the CPUC. The ERP included a preferred scenario to reach these emissions reductions.

About Tri-State

Tri-State is a not-for-profit cooperative of 45 members, including 42 utility electric distribution cooperative and public power district members in four states that together deliver reliable, affordable and responsible power to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West. For more information about Tri-State, visit www.tristate.coop.

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Contact:

Lee Boughey, 303-254-3555, lboughey@tristategt.org

Mark Stutz, 303-254-3183, mstutz@tristategt.org

Certain information contained in this press statement are forward-looking statements including statements concerning Tri-State’s plans, future events, and other information that is not historical information. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described from time to time in Tri-State’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Tri-State’s expectations and beliefs are expressed in good faith, and Tri-State believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, Tri-State cannot assure you that management’s expectations and beliefs will be achieved. There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein.