Dirty Energy is Out, Clean Energy is In:
Update on the Nixon Plant Decommission
State Senator Marc Snyder and State Representative Amy Paschal along with House Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell (northern El Paso County) have proposed legislation in the 2026 state legislative session (Senate Bill 26-022) which would allow Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to ask for an extension of the current 2030 deadline to close the Ray Nixon coal powerplant. CSU is currently obligated under its clean energy plan to close Nixon by the end of 2029 in order to meet a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2030. It claims that the extension is necessary because it cannot meet the current deadline. See Blog Post.
Sierra Club and other interested groups, including 350.org and Colorado Climate Advocates, oppose this bill for a number of reasons:
● CSU has not produced a definite plan or timeline for how and when it would meet clean energy goals and reach the 80% threshold.
● Under the proposed bill, CSU could ask for an unreasonably long extension of up to ten years, until 2040, to close Nixon.
● CSU has not made a convincing case for why it should not have to meet the 2030 target date, when other utilities across the state are still committed to meeting it.
● CSU has made no commitment to reduce Nixon plant emissions to meet current clean air standards during an extension of its operating life.
● The bill would unreasonably limit the Air Quality Control Commission’s ability to impose conditions on the grant of an extension.
Whether or not Colorado Springs Utilities intended this, its efforts to keep Nixon open have become one of the showpieces in a nationwide campaign by the Trump Administration and the fossil fuels industry to deny the existence of climate change, to roll back clean energy initiatives, to promote the continued use of fossil fuels, and to keep coal plants operating across the state. The Trump EPA recently rejected the Colorado Regional Haze Plan in large part because it would require the 2029 closure of Nixon. See the EPA announcement.
Pikes Peak Sierra Club Group and other interested parties have been meeting with Senator Snyder and Representative Paschal to discuss our concerns with the proposed legislation. We have also been working to raise local support for keeping the current Nixon closure date in place. We need to close Nixon on schedule in order to protect our own air quality and to do our part as a community to curb the CO2 emissions that are a chief driver of climate change. For ways that you can get involved in our effort, see the upcoming events portion of this newsletter, and check out our webpage and Facebook page.
Sierra Club has hired an organizer, Olivia West, to help organize a campaign to oppose extension of the Nixon closure deadline. You can also contact her for further information on how you can help at owest@greencorps.org.
2026 Legislative Session Underway
The 2026 Colorado Legislative session began on January 14, 2026. Sierra Club Colorado has been hard at work tracking introduced legislation and meeting with stakeholders to ensure that this session will be one of the best for the Environment here in Colorado.
Some early bills of note that Sierra Club is supporting include a bill on housing developments (HB 26- 1001), microgrid community resilience grant programs ( HB 26- 1051), electric battery recycling ( SB 26- 003), and limiting Rodenticide use ( SB 26- 062).
Some early bills that we are opposing include data center incentives (HB 26- 1030), granting exemptions to the 2030 emission goals ( SB- 022), and creating a nuclear workforce ( SB 26- 045).
You can follow legislation that Sierra Club is following at our Legislative Page. And you can join the L.A.C.E. training on February 7th, and you can join our first Lobby Day on March 9th.
February News
Conservation Report
By Jim Lockhart
For updates on the group’s campaigns and issues, please click here!
March 24th Educational Event at Seven’s Gate Taproom!
On March 24th from 4-6pm, The Pikes Peak Group will be holding a Wildlife Educational Event with expert guest speakers covering topics such as beaver protections, wolverine reintroduction, and more. Seven's Gate Taproom (77 S 7th St, Colorado Springs, CO 80905 ) is hosting the group and every dollar from each beer sold will be donated to the Pikes Peak group. Make sure to put the date in your calendar and look for more details to come.
Wildlife Update
In a continued assault on the Endangered Species Act, the Trump Administration is proposing to eliminate wolf protections nationwide. The House has passed a bill to remove wolves from endangered species protection.
Also very troubling is that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service threatens to terminate Colorado wolf reintroduction program. See article.
But the news isn't all bad. Colorado has adopted a plan to reintroduce wolverines to the state, releasing 15 per year for 3 years in 3 large high-altitude wild areas. Plan is pending US Fish and Wildlife Service approval. See plan here.
Please click here to see the most recent wolf activity in Colorado.
Upcoming Events
Day of Advocacy
Thursday, February 12th
Join us in Denver to oppose HB-1030, a bill that would grant 100% tax exemptions to new data centers without protecting Coloradans. We'll be greeting legislators at the Capitol entrance in the morning, talk messaging during lunch, then meet with our legislators and testify against the bill in the afternoon. Come for the morning, afternoon, or the whole day - and we'll arrange carpools for those who want to! RSVP here.
Clean Action Energy Team
every Thursday from 5:45-6:45pm
Meet with us in the Penrose Library's Pine Room - or join virtually! - each week to discuss and develop campaign strategy as well as take direct action to uplift clean energy policy. Contact Olivia West at owest@greencorps.org.