Springerville Coal Plant Closure Signals National Shift Away from Coal

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The Springerville coal plant in Arizona, co-owned by Tucson Electric Power, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, and Salt River Project, is the latest in a series of coal plant closures happening across the United States. Rising costs, aging infrastructure, and the decreasing price of renewable energy sources like solar are making coal-fired power generation increasingly uncompetitive, leading plant owners to transition away from coal.

Why it matters

The closure of the Springerville plant is indicative of a broader national trend of coal plant retirements driven by economic factors. As coal becomes less cost-effective compared to natural gas and renewable energy, more plant operators are making the decision to phase out coal and transition to cleaner, more affordable power sources. This shift has significant implications for the energy industry, workers, and communities that have historically relied on coal.

The details

Tucson Electric Power, a co-owner of the Springerville plant, is converting its share of the plant's capacity to natural gas, citing the volatile and rising costs of coal as well as concerns about the reliability of coal supply chains. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, another co-owner, has announced plans to close its Unit 3 at Springerville and replace the power with 1,250 megawatts of renewable energy by 2031. The Salt River Project remains the only owner without a publicly announced retirement date for its unit at the plant.

• In 2025, six units across four plants in the western US have already ceased burning coal.
• Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association plans to close its Unit 3 at Springerville and replace the power with 1,250 megawatts of renewable energy by 2031.

What’s next

Advocates are urging the Salt River Project, the only remaining owner without a publicly announced retirement date for its Springerville unit, to follow the lead of Tucson Electric Power and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and evaluate the continued reliance on coal-fired power from the plant.