Colorado bill that threatened to close Comanche 3 early no longer pushed forward

DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) -- A bill designed to reduce greenhouse gases in Colorado will no longer move forward, following opposition from Pueblo leaders and Governor Polis.

Senate Bill 21-200 would have reset emission goals, set previously by State leaders in 2019, for a 90% reduction by 2050. The bill could have closed the Comanche 3 Power Plant in Pueblo five years earlier than planned, in 2035 instead of 2040.

In April, Pueblo County Commissioner Garrison Ortiz said all projects would be in jeopardy if SB21-200 passed, including a loss of more than 100 jobs.

The Pueblo Chieftain reports Gov. Jared Polis also threatened to veto the bill. Now, sponsors of the bill say they will try to incorporate some of the bill's provisions, including enforcing emissions reductions across electric, oil, gas, and industrial sectors, into another House bill.