September 14, 2017
Puget Sound Energy (PSE), the largest utility in Washington State, reached a proposed settlement today to pay down all of its debts on Colstrip by 2027. Initially the utility had planned to pay off the coal plant in 2045, but as coal continues to get more expensive compared to cleaner alternatives like solar, wind and energy efficiency, holding onto coal assets is getting harder to justify. The proposal is part of PSE's rate case process and still needs approval of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.