Tri-State filing with Colorado Public Utilities Commission would result in retirement of Rifle Station

• The 85-megawatt nameplate natural gas, combined-cycle power plant ran infrequently in recent years.
• Four employees will receive support from Tri-State through the transition, and Tri-State will provide funding for local economic development in Garfield County.

(April 5, 2022 – Westminster, Colo.) – Wholesale power supply cooperative Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association today made a filing with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission that would, if approved, result in the retirement of Rifle Station on or about Oct. 6, 2022.

The 85-megawatt combined-cycle facility, located in Rifle, Colo., runs infrequently, as Tri-State currently has sufficient and lower-cost resources to serve its members’ power requirements, and significant near-term investments would be required to continue operating the facility.

“The decision to retire Rifle Station comes as we transition to cleaner resources and reduce our wholesale rates,” said Tri-State CEO Duane Highley. “We appreciate our Rifle employees’ commitment and service through the years, and will be working with them to ease the impact of this transition.”

The power plant has four employees, and Tri-State is providing support for those employees as they transition from the facility.

Tri-State’s board of directors also approved a donation of $50,000 for local economic development to the Rifle Regional Economic Development Corporation (RREDC). Tri-State worked with Garfield County, Colo., to identify RREDC as the recipient for these funds.

“The Rifle Regional Economic Development Corporation is thrilled to receive this donation from Tri-State. The funds will be used to continue efforts with our regional partners to promote economic development activity in the Colorado River Valley. Our goal is to create an environment that attracts businesses and industries that provide meaningful, locally located, primary jobs. This is done through activities such as placemaking, connection of resources and incentives, marketing, workforce development, and many others,” said Tyler Kelly, executive director for RREDC.

Rifle Station came online in 1987. Tri-State began purchasing power from the plant in 1992 and purchased the facility in 2002. Tri-State does not anticipate adverse effects to reliability or emissions with the retirement of the facility.

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About Tri-State

Tri-State is a wholesale power supply cooperative, operating on a not-for-profit basis, with 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.

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.