The EPA disapproved Colorado’s Regional Haze State Implementation Plan, which was broadly supported by the state, utilities, industry, and environmental groups. The state’s plan includes retirement deadlines for coal plants that several utilities voluntarily proposed and asked the state to include in its plan.

The Regional Haze Rule requires that states reduce air pollution and improve air quality in national parks and wilderness areas. In its disapproval of Colorado’s plan, the EPA claims the voluntary coal plant retirements included in the state’s plan would harm grid reliability. However, the state and the utilities have long planned to retire the coal plants and to replace their generation with cheaper and cleaner resources.

EPA initially proposed a partial disapproval of Colorado’s haze plan, but the final rule released rejects the entire plan. Colorado’s plan fully complies with the Clean Air Act. According to the National Parks Conservation Association, EPA’s overreach in disapproving the plan is unwarranted and will harm Coloradans and result in dirtier air in Rocky Mountain National Park and other public lands.

“EPA’s decision to disapprove Colorado’s plan is dangerous for Colorado’s national parks and for everyone who values clean, healthy air,” said Tracy Coppola, Colorado senior program manager for the NPCA. “Millions of people visit our parks each year to experience the once-in-a-lifetime views, but pollution from coal plants continues to threaten the experience at Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes and Black Canyon. Coloradans deserve a plan that protects the places we love for future generations. Dirty air is not the legacy we want to leave behind.”