The US Department of Energy (US DOE) has issued an emergency order to keep Unit 1 of the 1.43GW Craig Station coal-fired power plant in Craig, Colorado, operational, to support electricity supply during the winter period.
The instruction applies to the plant’s operator Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and its co-owners Platte River Power Authority, PacifiCorp, Salt River Project, and Xcel Energy.
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It also requires coordination with the Western Area Power Administration—Rocky Mountain Region and Southwest Power Pool West.
According to the DOE, the organisations are required to take the steps needed to ensure the unit can operate.
Unit 1, which entered into service in 1980, was due to cease operations at the end of 2025.
The power plant has two more units, 2 and 3, which are both scheduled to retire in late September 2028.
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By GlobalDataUnit 1 and Unit 2 have a power generation capacity of 446.4MW each, while Unit 3 has a capacity of 534.8MW.
The stated purpose of the DOE’s order is to maintain grid stability in the region, reduce the likelihood and consequences of power interruptions, and minimise electricity costs for consumers.
It references DOE’s Resource Adequacy Report, which states that outages could increase by up to 100 times in 2030 if dependable generation is retired.
The directive came into effect on 30 December 2025 and runs until 30 March 2026.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said: “On Day One, President Trump declared an energy emergency and directed the government to reverse the dangerous energy subtraction policies of the previous administration.
“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.”
In August 2025, the DOE renewed an emergency order to keep the JH Campbell coal-fired plant in West Olive, Michigan ready to operate, extending the timeframe from 21 August 2025 to 19 November 2025.
Issued to the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the measure was intended to address regional grid security issues and reduce the risk of outages across the Midwest.
Since the DOE’s original instruction in May, the Campbell plant had supported MISO in covering peak demand, particularly when electricity from intermittent sources was limited.
