Community members have multiple avenues, including upcoming meetings, available to provide comments to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission about a proposed energy resource plan to transition the coal-fired power plant in Hayden to clean energy sources.

The state commission will host public comment hearings regarding Xcel Energy’s “Just Transition Solicitation,” which includes a virtual-only public comment hearing via Zoom on April 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and an in-person meeting 4-6 p.m. on May 1 at the Community Center in Hayden.

Xcel Energy refers to the current process as a “solicitation” because the company is soliciting new power generation proposals from developers in order transition away from coal-fired electricity generation and move to clean energy generation sources to meet state goals.

The hearings are intended for local community members and other stakeholders to provide comments on the transition proposal, but the commission will not make decisions or conduct deliberations at these public hearings. The commission is expected to reach a final decision in August.

Megan Castle, the commission’s communications director, said verbal public comments during the Zoom and the in-person meeting in Hayden are limited to 3 minutes. To comment during the April 28 Zoom meeting, citizens must register in advance for the meeting to receive a Zoom link and then will need to request to comment at the meeting.

Castle said citizens can also submit comments by email, via an online form or by voicemail messages or U.S. Mail, with instructions posted on the “How to Participate in a Proceeding” webpage at PUC.Colorado.gov/participate.

According to the website, the “commission treats public comments with the same weight regardless of how they are provided.”

Xcel Energy filed for a Public Utilities Commission approval at its 2024 Just Transition Solicitation on Oct. 15. That transition plan is Xcel Energy’s next “Electric Resource Plan” to address the acquisition of new utility resources to meet future electricity needs on its system.

The primary objectives of the plan include fulfilling resource adequacy, providing reliable service, continuing progress on emissions reductions and delivering a “just transition” in communities where generation assets are retiring, according to the Colorado Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate website at UCA.Colorado.gov.

“When the commission approved our Clean Energy Plan, commissioners requested we file a separate plan to address the replacement of generation at our Hayden and Comanche plants,” said Michelle Aguayo, Xcel Energy media relations representative. “That filing, called the Just Transition Solicitation, was filed last October and is a two-phase filing. We have not asked for proposals yet; that will come in phase two, after commission approval of phase one.”

The Xcel Energy website information on the 2024 Colorado Just Transition Solicitation explains how the multi-year, two-phase process will identify new power generation to replace retiring coal units and meet customers’ forecasted energy needs while supporting workforce and communities.

Phase one sets expectations and establishes practices and protocols to evaluate power generation project bids to be received during phase two. The company will launch a request for proposals to solicit new power generation from developers during phase two.

“The PUC is hosting these meetings to hear directly the unique needs and perspectives of communities impacted by the retirement of these coal-fired facilities,” PUC Director Rebecca White said. “Public input is a critical part of the commission’s process to review Xcel Energy’s JTS proposal.”

Citizens interested in reviewing any of the dozens of documents filed in 2024 and this year about the Hayden Station transition can look up under “E-Filings” the Proceeding 24A-0442E on the commission website PUC.Colorado.gov/Key-Proceedings.

For the Hayden meeting, a children’s play area will be available, and American Sign Language or Spanish interpretation services can be requested by April 17 to Holly.Bise@state.co.us.

According to the commission’s website, the commission reads comments and may take them into consideration when it “weighs evidence in a proceeding to make a decision.”

“The commission does not count comments for or against an issue,” the site states. “It is required to balance many different viewpoints and to ensure its decisions are based on sound factual evidence and comply with state and federal laws. The most effective comments include specific information about the issues before the commission or how those issues will impact you or your community.”

Coal-fired facilities in Craig and Hayden are set to retire in 2027 and 2028, according to the commission’s webpage.

Specifically, Hayden Unit 2 is scheduled to retire in 2027 and Hayden Unit 1 in 2028. Craig Unit 2 is also scheduled to retire in 2028. Xcel Energy’s Unit 3 coal-fired facility in Pueblo will retire no later than Jan. 1, 2031.

In the application to the commission, Xcel lists several objectives for the transition plan including advancing a “just transition” for communities impacted by accelerated coal plant retirements and acquiring sufficient resources to fulfill resource adequacy, all while achieving an 80% emissions reduction by 2030.