The Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association plans to permanently close the Colowyo surface mine, located near Meeker, Colo. The company has signed a contract with Kiewit Mining Group Inc., for reclamation services beginning on or around Jan. 1, 2026. Tri-State’s subsidiary, the Colowyo Coal Co., filed a WARN notice with the State of Colorado, saying the mine’s 133 employees would be laid off by the end of the year.
The Colowyo mine supplied a high-quality, low-sulfur bituminous coal to Tri-State’s 1,285-megawatt (MW) Craig Generation Station. The coal-fired power plant, located in Moffatt County, Colorado, is a three-unit generating facility. The 427-MW Unit No. 1 was scheduled to close by year end. The current plan calls for Unit Nos. 2 and 3 to close in 2028 and 2030 respectively with the plant closing in 2030.
The coal for the Craig Generating Station originates primarily from two mines, the Colowyo mine, located nearby, and the Trapper mine, located on-site. The power plant and mine were built together. Today, the Trapper mine, an open-pit mine, is operated by MidAmerican Holdings.
Through the first three quarters of 2025, the Colowyo and Trapper mines produced 885,000 tons and 1,324,000 tons, respectively, according to data from the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Last year, Colowyo produced 1.66 million tons and Trapper produced 1.52 million tons.
Source: www.coalage.com
