A plan by Xcel Energy to acquire billions of dollars worth of new power sources and shut its coal plants has won the backing of state regulators – but has infuriated leaders in Pueblo County, home to what would be Colorado’s last coal power station.
The county commissioners have filed a document with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission saying they’ll ask President Donald Trump and Secretary Energy Chris Wright to order that coal plants in the county keep running until a new energy facility is built that can provide the kind of jobs and revenue that Xcel’s coal facilities have.
Trump has promoted coal as an energy source through executive orders and issued emergency directives to keep coal plants in Michigan and Pennsylvania operating despite plans to retire them. Pueblo County is