Tri-State dumps coal, eyes wind and solar as new fling

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association has announced it is creating an aggressive “Responsible Energy Plan,” one which begins with the retiring of the 100 MW Nucla Coal Plant in early 2020. With a tri-pronged promise of cutting costs and emissions while improving the reliability of its generation fleet, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association has announced it is creating an aggressive “Responsible Energy Plan.” Tri-state includes wind, solar and hydro under those qualifiers, but not nukes. However, what is important here isn’t only what’s coming on-line, but rather what’s going off. Within the announcement of the new energy plan came the news that Tri-State will be retiring its 100 MW coal-fired power plant, the Nucla Station in Western Colorado at the beginning of 2020, a full two years earlier than previous expectations. A factor that may well have played into the early shutdown decision is the fact that Tri-State’s generation mix currently sits at 50% coal. While it’s also supported by 30% renewables, that coal figure is one that member utilities haven’t been so excited with and have expressed desire to change.