EPA rejects Colorado 's plan for haze reduction
- Media Logic Radio
- 4 hours ago
- 1 min read
The Environmental Protection Agency has rejected Colorado’s plan to reduce the haze that clouds views at Rocky Mountain National Park and other federal lands, ruling the state cannot force coal-fired power plants to shut down under the Clean Air Act.
The decision, announced Friday, sends Colorado back to the drawing board on its regional haze plan — a requirement under federal law meant to protect visibility in national parks and wilderness areas.
The EPA says Colorado overstepped its authority by proposing coal plant closures without the consent of the utilities that operate them. EPA Region 8 Administrator Cyrus Western said the state can meet clean-air requirements without shutting down coal-fired power plants, which he called critical to reliable and affordable electricity.
The move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader effort to protect the coal industry and maintain fossil fuels on the electric grid.
State health officials strongly disagree. Colorado’s Air Pollution Control Division says the EPA decision threatens air quality and undercuts efforts to protect national parks. The state says it has not failed to meet federal haze requirements and plans to review its next steps.
Environmental groups were more blunt, calling the decision politically motivated and harmful to public health, tourism and outdoor recreation — a key part of Colorado’s economy.
Most Colorado utilities are already planning to retire coal plants and shift to cleaner energy, though some have delayed closures due to reliability concerns.
If Colorado does not submit a revised plan, the EPA could impose one of its own.
