With the impending closure of three of Xcel Energy’s coal-fired power plants, the communities of Pueblo, Hayden, Meeker, Oak Creek and Craig are facing uncertain futures under Gov. Jared Polis’ plan to remove all carbon dioxide emissions from power generation by 2040.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission, tasked with “effectively regulating utilities and facilities so that the people of Colorado receive safe, reliable, and reasonably-priced services consistent with the economic, environmental and social values of our state,” is responsible for reviewing Xcel Energy’s “Just Transition Solicitation” and will host public meetings to get input.

That will determine in part how the company plans to meet the needs for new electric generation resources and how the communities affected by coal plant closures, along with the coal mines that serve the plants, will deliver a “just transition” to those communities.

“The PUC is hosting these meetings to hear directly the unique needs and perspectives of communities impacted by the retirement of these coal-fired facilities,” said PUC Director Rebecca White in a news release.

Xcel Energy’s Unit 3 coal-fired facility in Pueblo is scheduled to retire no later than Jan. 1, 2031, and coal-fired facilities in Craig and Hayden are set to retire in 2027 and 2028.

What will become of the sites is still unknown, but various replacements, from molten salt thermal storage to pumped water hydro generation to small modular nuclear reactors, have been suggested.

On March 25, the commission announced three public comment hearings.

In-person meetings will be held in Pueblo on April 17 and Hayden on May 1. A third virtual-only public comment hearing is scheduled for April 28.

While the PUC says the hearings are for local community members and other stakeholders to provide comments on the proposal, they are public meetings open to all, according to state open meetings law.

There will be no decisions or deliberations at the meetings.

More information on Xcel Energy’s Just Transition Plan, Proceeding 24A-0442E is available on the PUC website or https://puc.colorado.gov/key-proceedings.

The commission is expected to reach a final decision in August 2025.

Pueblo in-person public comment hearing

• Who: Local community members and PUC Commission

• When: 4-6 p.m., Thursday, April 17

• Where: Hoag Recital Hall, CSU-Pueblo Campus, 2200 Bonforte Blvd., Pueblo

• Services: Light refreshments and a children’s play area. ASL or Spanish interpretation services can be requested by contacting Holly Bise at (303) 894-2024 or holly.bise@state.co.us by Thursday, April 3.

Hayden in-person public comment hearing

• Who: Local community members and PUC Commission

• When: 4-6 p.m., Thursday, May 1

• Where: Hayden Community Center, 495 W. Jefferson Ave., Hayden

• Services: Light refreshments and a children’s play area. ASL or Spanish interpretation services can be requested by contacting Holly Bise at (303) 894-2024or holly.bise@state.co.us by Thursday, April 17.

Virtual public comment hearing

• Who: All community members, stakeholders and PUC Commission

• When: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday, April 28

• Services: ASL or Spanish interpretation services can be requested by contacting Holly Bise at (303) 894-2024 or holly.bise@state.co.us by Monday, April 14.

How to submit public comments

Public comments can be received anytime but are encouraged to be submitted by early July 2025. Comments should reference Proceeding Number 24A-0442EE:

• Submit written comments through the Commission’s Electronic Filing System (E-Filings)

• Submit written comments using the Commission’s online form

• Submit through email at dora_puc_website@state.co.us

• Mail comments to the commission’s offices at: Colorado Public Utilities Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, CO 80202

• Call (303) 869-3490 to leave oral comments (English and Spanish options)

For more information on the Just Transition Solicitation, visit https://puc.colorado.gov/key-proceedings.