Tri-State Moves a Half Step Forward and Baggage Alert

Tri-State Generation is delaying construction of one of two coal burning power plants in southwestern Kansas. Its reason? The "company plans to pursue other natural gas and renewable energy plants to serve customers' immediate needs," according to a Wichita Eagle article today.

These bold plans are certainly welcome news for clean air and our health. In previous posts, we've labeled Tri-State a "coal monster" because of its seemingly insatiable taste for more coal and failure to invest in renewables like wind and solar. This may still be half true, but we have to admit Tri-State is headed in the right direction with its recent plans.

Of course, Tri-State still has plans to build one coal burning power plant in southwestern Kansas, burn more coal at its Craig power plant in northwestern Colorado, and still has an energy portfolio dominated by coal (see Tri-State's portfolio below). Nevertheless, this half step forward is a big one.

BAGGAGE ALERT: We've previously commented that Colorado Air Pollution Control Division director, Paul Tourangeau, has some baggage to deal with as a former lawyer for Duke Energy. Comments on Colorado Confidential have brought attention to this in the wake of the Supreme Court's rejection of Duke Energy's arguments that it didn't have to comply with the Clean Air Act.