I am writing in response to the article in the Pikes Peak Bulletin dated March 3, 2026 called “Utilities CEO says ‘Gloves will come off’ if Senate bill doesn’t delay closing Nixon coal plant.”
As a Colorado Springs ratepayer, I am extremely disappointed in not only Colorado Springs Utilities’ lack of preparation to comply with the law and their promised closing date for the Ray Nixon plant, but also with the tone CSU CEO, Travas Deal struck in the article. What does “the gloves will come off” actually mean? This phrasing makes me concerned and is disrespectful to those the utility serves.
The bill Deal is referring to is SB26-22, which was introduced within the first week of the 2026 Colorado Legislative Session, but has yet to have a committee hearing scheduled. This bill was introduced by Senators Marc Snyder and Cleave Simpson and Representatives Jarvis Caldwell and Amy Paschal. Amy Paschal has stated she now has reservations about the bill, as CSU does not seem to have a plan to comply with the law by meeting their required 2030 clean energy goals if SB26-22 doesn’t pass.
I agree with Rep. Paschal, as CSU has squandered the last 5 years where they could have been developing a plan to transition to clean energy after the agreed upon closing date (both in 2029 or beyond) for the Nixon plant. What have they been doing in that time?
Nine electric utilities–representing every major utility in Colorado–have adopted Clean Energy Plans and are on track to implement those plans. CSU is the only utility in Colorado claiming that it cannot meet this requirement and the only utility in Colorado trying to backtrack on its commitment to implement its Clean Energy Plan. Why is this? CSU has yet to give a reasonable explanation as to why they are the only utility having challenges meeting this goal, and the only utility with zero plans in place to meet it.
Keeping the Nixon plant open will only hurt ratepayers that trusted CSU to come up with a plan to transition away from coal, and keep energy affordable and reliable. Not only has it been shown that continuing to burn coal at an aging plant is the most costly way to produce energy, but it also has the potential to create immeasurable harm to our planet in terms of carbon emissions. Colorado residents that are forced to breathe in the toxic pollution created are also facing great harm to their health and well-being. As a ratepayer and a Colorado Springs resident, I call upon Mr. Deal and CSU to do the right thing and stand by its commitments to the people they claim to serve by submitting a Clean Energy Plan like the rest of the utilities in the state – they do not need the blank check extension that SB26-022 would put in place to reach our renewable energy goals.
Ann Gadwah
Colorado Springs