U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has issued an emergency order to keep Unit 1 at the Craig Station coal plant in Colorado operational through the winter months. The decision, announced on December 31, 2025, is intended to address concerns about grid reliability and prevent potential blackouts as demand for electricity increases during colder weather.
The order instructs Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Platte River Power Authority, Salt River Project, PacifiCorp, and Xcel Energy—working with the Western Area Power Administration’s Rocky Mountain Region and Southwest Power Pool West—to ensure that Unit 1 remains available for operation. The unit was originally scheduled to shut down at the end of 2025.
“On Day One, President Trump declared an energy emergency and directed the government to reverse the dangerous energy subtraction policies of the previous administration,” said Energy Secretary Wright. “Keeping this coal plant online will ensure Americans maintain an affordable, reliable, and secure supply of electricity. The Trump Administration is committed to lowering energy costs and keeping American families safe.”
According to a Department of Energy Resource Adequacy Report cited in the announcement, if reliable power sources are removed from service in coming years, power outages could increase significantly by 2030.
The emergency order took effect on December 30, 2025, and will remain in place until March 30, 2026.
