Colorado regulators are supporting an option to switch a coal-fired smokestack in Denver to run on natural gas.
The fate of the Cherokee 4 unit was one of the most contested portions of Xcel Energy’s proposal to reduce emissions, which was required by a new state law.
The Public Utilities Commission has until Dec. 15 to issue their formal order but the three commissioners agreed on the fuel-switching option Thursday for the Cherokee unit.
The commission supports Xcel’s proposals to close five other coal-fired units in Denver and Boulder, switch one Denver unit to run on natural gas, and add emissions controls on two others.
The fuel-switch option for the remaining Denver unit was not the first choice for either the Ritter administration or Xcel.
