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Rio Grande Chapter statement on Escalante coal plant closing

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, January 9th, 2020

Contact:
Camilla Feibelman, 505.715.8388

Tri-State Generation and Transmission, owner of the Escalante coal-fired power plant in McKinley County, announced Thursday that it will close the plant this year. Additionally, Tri-State will retire Crag 2&3 and closing the Colowyo coal mine.

Tri-State said it will commit $5 million in transition funds for the community impacted by Escalante’s shuttering, as compared to $40 million for the community surrounding San Juan Generating Station under the Energy Transition Act.

In response, Camilla Feibelman, Sierra Club’s Rio Grande Chapter director, released the following statement:

“As we make the urgent and necessary transition away from coal, there are very real, immediate economic effects of Escalante’s closing to the surrounding pueblos, tribes and counties. We are calling on Tri-State to support the impacted communities, who have committed decades to keeping our lights on.”

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Featured image by Blue Diamond Gallery

Rio Grande Chapter statement on Escalante coal plant closing