Articles (and some links) on energy transition in our (Rockies/Great Plains) area of the country
I was doing a little self-assessment of the website here at the end of the year, and realized I haven't done much recently on regional economic issues. At the same time I saw the first article included here on negotiations for "just transition" away from fossil fuels while compensating the areas whose power plants are being shut down. So I'm simply posting some article links - no analysis, just food for thought . . .
Jay LeBlanc
12/23/20254 min read
Article #1 - "Colorado communities argue the “just transition” from coal isn’t all that just" (The Colorado Sun, Dec 23, 2025):
As a bit of quick background, Colorado has seen this issue on the horizon for the past 15+ years, but the pandemic seemed to speed up the process (I say that because the numbers the Colorado Council for Economic Education included in a class we conducted a few years ago on "The Economics of Colorado Energy" have completely changed). This article is primarily focusing on a relatively-new issue - the question of what to do to support the communities left behind when their coal or natural gas power plants and mines are no longer needed.
The article notes that in 2019, the Colorado legislature passed a bill to support the transition of coal communities declaring it a “moral commitment to assist the workers and communities that have powered Colorado for generations.” The law created the state Office of Just Transition, which received $30 million to help coal communities and workers. But the article also notes that the amount of money from the legislature is a "drop in the bucket" compared to the resources potentially available from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (which sets rates for utility companies throughout Colorado).
Links to Articles on the Topic (beginning with the article above):
"Colorado communities argue the “just transition” from coal isn’t all that just", Colorado Sun, Dec 2025, https://coloradosun.com/2025/12/23/just-transitions-coal-power-mines-moffat-routt-pueblo/
"After coal, a debate in Colorado over proposed new natural gas electricity generation", KUNC/Colorado Public Radio, Jul 2025, https://www.kunc.org/news/2025-07-06/after-coal-a-debate-in-colorado-over-proposed-new-natural-gas-electricity-generation
"Navigating Change: How GPI Facilitated Collaborative Solutions for Craig Station’s Retirement", Great Plains Institute, Dec 2024, https://betterenergy.org/blog/navigating-change-how-gpi-facilitated-collaborative-solutions-for-craig-stations-retirement/
"Gov. Polis’ administration moves to stop a Pueblo coal plant from closing by the end of the year", KRCC/Colorado Public Radio, Nov 2025, https://www.cpr.org/2025/11/10/polis-pueblo-comanche-coal-plants-moves-to-stop-closure/
"Energy battle: Colorado power plant closures ignite debate over jobs, taxes and energy future in Pueblo", Denver Gazette, Oct 2025, https://www.denvergazette.com/2025/10/11/energy-battle-colorado-power-plant-closures-ignite-debate-over-jobs-taxes-and-energy-future-in-pueblo-2/
As I noted above, no real analysis on this one - right now there are way too many issues to work through quickly and easily. It is interesting to contrast the different energy approaches being taken between Colorado, the Dakotas, and Utah/Nevada. But . . . I want to make the articles available to you in case you are interested (along, as usual, with some related links)
Article #2 - "Major power line expansions will fuel future growth in South Dakota" (Brookings Register/South Dakota News Watch, Nov 2025):
In contrast to Colorado, the story in North and South Dakota has alternated between support for expanded energy production, and efforts to diversify that production with new sources and transmission lines. A big recent issue has been new laws in states like Minnesota and Colorado restricting energy production sources for energy coming into their states (even if the energy itself is being produced elsewhere). With so many multi-state corporations affected (like Xcel Energy, which is headquartered in Minneapolis) it threatens to unleash a new series of states suing other states over infringing on their economic rights.
Because of that, there has been little movement toward energy transition in the Dakotas - more of the emphasis has been on efforts of communities and regions to "not put your eggs in one basket". So as an example, note the featured article on power line expansion in NE South Dakota, where an existing power production industry (home to a coal-fired power plant, a Poet Biofuels ethanol plant and a major electrical substation) gets more tools to diversify its target markets.
Links to Articles on the Topic (beginning with the article above):
"Major power line expansions will fuel future growth in South Dakota", Brookings Register/South Dakota News Watch, Nov 2025, https://brookingsregister.com/stories/major-power-line-expansions-will-fuel-future-growth-in-south-dakota,162301
"South Dakota clashes with Minnesota on clean energy, coal plant closures", South Dakota News Watch, Jul 2024, https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-minnesota-clean-energy-coal-power-plant-closure/
"North Dakota eyes next-generation nuclear as replacement for coal plants", North Dakota Monitor, May 2024, https://northdakotamonitor.com/2024/05/15/north-dakota-eyes-next-generation-nuclear-as-replacement-for-coal-plants/
"Coal, oil seek to join forces on North Dakota energy production", North Dakota Monitor, Aug 2025, https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/08/13/coal-oil-seek-to-join-forces-on-north-dakota-energy-production/
Article #3 - An Eclectic Mix of Articles from the Rest of the Region:
Rather than try to find a third option between the two listed above, I am simply listing a few other articles and resources from other states, particularly focusing on this issue of how different states are dealing with the transition away from coal-powered energy and what is being done for the people and places left behind. Below are articles from Utah, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming, along with some general resources on the energy generation transition.
Articles from the rest of the region:
"What happens after Utah’s coal-fired power plants close?", High Country News, Jan 2025, https://www.hcn.org/issues/what-happens-after-utahs-coal-fired-power-plants-close/
"The future of coal country: Landscape on the brink of change (Montana’s energy economy pits traditional industry against renewable opportunities with billions of tax dollars at stake)", Montana Free Press, Oct 2024, https://montanafreepress.org/2024/10/21/the-future-of-coal-country-landscape-on-the-brink-of-change/ NOTE - This is the 1st of 4 articles in a series.
"Ordered to close its last coal plant, NV Energy will now burn a different fossil fuel", The Nevada Independent, Feb 2025, https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/ordered-to-close-its-last-coal-plant-nv-energy-will-now-burn-a-different-fossil-fuel
"Kemmerer power plant’s coal-to-natural-gas conversion highlights uncertainty for Wyoming communities", WyoFile, Dec 2025, https://wyofile.com/kemmerer-power-plants-coal-to-natural-gas-conversion-highlights-uncertainty-for-wyoming-communities/
General Resources about the energy transition in the Rockies/Northern Great Plains:
"Chart: What’s Powering New U.S. Electricity?", Visual Capitalist, Sep 2025, https://www.visualcapitalist.com/whats-powering-new-u-s-electricity-generation/
"Coal Plants in the Midwest: What Happens After They Close?", Environmental Law and Policy Center, Sep 2025, https://elpc.org/blog/coal-plants-in-the-midwest-what-happens-after-they-close/
"How Has Energy Use Changed Throughout U.S. History?", U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Jul 2024, https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=62444
"Road to Decarbonization: The United States Electricity Mix", Visual Capitalist, Aug 2021, https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/road-to-decarbonization-united-states-electricity-mix