EPA Disapproves Colorado’s Regional Haze Plan and Supports State’s Coal Plants
EPA - Press Release
January 9, 2026
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing the full disapproval of Colorado’s revised 2022 Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (SIP), preventing the premature closure of power plants. EPA determined that Colorado’s proposal to shut down coal fired power plants, without consent from all of the plants, does not comply with the Clean Air Act (CAA). These plants are vital to delivering reliable and affordable energy to Colorado families. Shutting down these power plants is not necessary to meet Regional Haze requirements, and including forced closure deadlines for facilities that want to stay open would have been a misuse of the CAA. Today’s final action reflects EPA’s commitment to fulfilling all statutory obligations and ensuring Coloradans have affordable baseload power while meeting CAA visibility obligations in Colorado’s national parks and wilderness areas. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s Powering the Great American Comeback initiative prioritizes cooperative federalism, and the agency actively looks for ways to work with states to achieve measured results. EPA stands ready to assist Colorado in creating a regional haze plan that fulfills all statutory requirements.
“Reliable baseload energy sources are essential to Powering the Great American Comeback and ensuring families have cost-effective energy. The Trump EPA has repeatedly demonstrated that we can achieve our statutory obligations, support baseload power, and improve visibility within our national parks. This is what the American people voted for,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin. “EPA is ready and willing to work full-heartedly with Colorado to revise its SIP, ensuring full compliance with the Clean Air Act as written.”
“Administrator Zeldin and the Trump Administration are laser focused on ensuring Americans have an abundance of highly reliable and affordable energy,” said EPA Regional Administrator Cyrus Western. “EPA’s denial of Colorado’s SIP revision delivers this outcome in a manner that’s fully compliant with the Clean Air Act while simultaneously providing for clean air for all Americans.”
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