Northwestern Colorado town caught in the middle of coal debate
To find KS Kreations in downtown Craig, just follow the smell.
Chocolate chips oozing out of a fresh baked cookie the size of your face. A raspberry bubbling inside a crumble. An Ultimate Grilled Cheese sizzling on the griddle. Their aromas waft out of the door into the street, luring in hungry passersby.
Behind the bakery and craft store are three generations of Craig women --
Without it, their bakery could shutter.
Dilldine's husband is an electrician at the
"I hope people understand that (moving away from coal) affects people," Dilldine said. "Even if you hate it so much, it affects people like me."
The women at KS Kreations aren't alone in their stand. When Craig's economic lifeblood is threatened, the community has proven time and time again its willingness to fight.
In August,
In 2015, the environmental group WildEarth Guardians challenged an assessment of the Colowyo mine by the federal
Stop almost anyone on the street, and they're sure to have an opinion on the future of coal in
Defenders of coal say that pollution can be mitigated with scrubbers, and coal will remain a crucial energy source for the state and the country for a long time. Colorado produces about 2 percent of the country's coal, and 42.8 percent of the state's electricity came from coal in June, according to the
Critics of solar and wind technologies argue that the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow, which can leave customers without power when coal-powered electricity isn't part of the mix.
But environmental groups such as WildEarth are adamant that the country needs to transition to renewables as soon as possible to curtail climate change and avoid further human health problems brought on by pollution from coal plants.
But what happens to a coal town when market forces and climate change activists are steering the world toward a future no longer reliant on coal?
-- -- --
On
That day, he directed federal regulators to rewrite key rules curbing
The new rule focuses its standards on existing power plants and allows states to create -- or abstain from creating -- their emissions reduction plans. The Clean Power Plan, on the other hand, targeted the entire system of coal-powered electrical generation, ensuring it chopped emissions "beyond the fenceline."
But market forces are still working against coal, and it is unclear if the new rules will help Craig.
Since 2010, hundreds of coal-fired power plants -- about 40 percent of the country's coal fleet -- have been retired, according to
Between 2016 and 2017, use of coal nationally in the electricity sector decreased from 678.6 million short tons to 664.7 and is predicted to drop to 615.9 million short tons by 2019, according to the EIA.
The decline, which was reported in Colorado to be about 64 percent between 2005 and 2016, has been propelled by the plummeting cost of natural gas in addition to a shift to renewable energy and a range of air pollution regulations.
Colorado's
Tri-State Generation & Transmission, which operates the coal-fired power plant in
"We believe that it falls in line with the (emissions reduction) rules laid out in the Clean Air Act, which the Clean Power Plan did not do," said spokesman
-- -- --
When the collapse of his town appeared on the horizon, though, he changed his mind.
"When I came in as a city councilman, then mayor of Craig, I saw a city and a community that was apathetic. Their view was that coal will never go away, and that oil and gas will just keep growing. I saw this apathy in not looking at what the future could be," he said.
Unlike the KS Kreations crew and much of the population of Craig, Ponikvar is not a
Despite his relocation, his memory bears the scars of
"When that mine closed in 1983, the community wasn't prepared for it. The community didn't know what to do," Ponikvar said. "There are a lot of people there who are my age who are still sitting there waiting for the mine to reopen."
Despite
"We understand technologies are going to change the fossil fuels industries that we've relied on for the past 40 years," he said, "but we have time. It won't go away overnight. We still have another 20 years to prepare."
He continued, "My biggest fear is that (what happened in
Before it's too late, Ponikvar and Craig/Moffat Economic Development Partnership want to diversify:
Transform
"You can either take change and embrace it and adjust to it, or die," Ponikvar said. "That's where we're at right now. I think more people in our community are starting to understand that."
-- -- --
About 30 miles southwest of KS Kreations just outside Meeker, five antelope bound across the rolling plains of the Colorado steppe. They pause to graze on bushels of sagebrush, then lift their heads in search of the male in their herd. He's watching from behind, scanning the terrain for signs of predators.
Elk and deer pass through this corridor, too, roaming the abundance of wide-open spaces flanked to the east by the
Twelve years ago, this fertile habitat was a black pit, but you'd never know it today. Between 1977 and 2006, miners sliced 350 feet deep into the Earth and excavated thousands of tons of coal to power the West in what became known as the
It was the first of four pits that would be dug at the 176,000-acre
With the expansion of coal mines and the construction of
"It took a tremendous amount of time and manpower to build those power plants and a lot of power ... to start up the coal mines," said
The life cycle of these mines is quite simple: miners cut into the ground, save the topsoil until they've extracted enough coal, refill the pit and seed it with native vegetation.
"When we mine it's a temporary use of the land," Boughey said. "We take coal out of the ground ... and we put it all back the way we found it."
Of any part of the process,
"When you see our active pit,
On paper, the mine employs 220 full-time employees with about 100 more contracted ones, Boughey said. It pays
To McCourt, it's something more.
"There's a sense of pride in (the
-- -- --
The elevator at
His plant employs 273 mainly local workers, pays taxes to his community and ensures that the lights turn on when residents flip the switch. Plus, he can point to almost any flat-screen TV in his plant to prove that he contributes to Tri-State's diverse energy portfolio, 27 percent of which comes from solar, wind and hydroelectricity.
"The plant means I have a nice piece of real estate and a nice home," he said. "I have the time to work within many communities -- the
There, between 1989 and 2002,
She hated the shift work, which sometimes involved a week of 12-hour shifts troubleshooting equipment. It meant extended time away from her daughter but also a large enough salary and benefits to support herself after her divorce.
To this day, she's never felt a bond with co-workers like she did with the people (mainly men) with whom she worked. When she was pregnant, her co-workers ensured she was safe from the strains of physical labor and potential radiation. The guys even threw her a baby shower.
"They took care of me," she said. "I miss the people more than anything."
If only coal protesters could see inside the plant, inside the mine, then they could understand that burning what Hankins calls "clean coal" is safe and funds a lifestyle of hunting and outdoors that the citizens of Craig love.
"If more people paid attention, they'd understand what coal is and what it isn't and what it does for us here." she said.
But, like the current mayor, he believes it's time to move on.
"Coal treated me and my family well, but we can't do it like that anymore," said Carwile, who helped pass legislation for a solar field near the
Carwile mentioned health care as a "stellar" offering for diversification as well as making the local community college a four-year, residential facility. All in all, the key is young people.
"It's up to us to try to figure out the elements of our town that will pull in the primary dollars and the young professionals who will build new industry here," he said.
-- -- --
As Craig grapples with its identity and its uncertain future, the national debate over coal rages on.
Though WildEarth Guardians does not have active lawsuits in
It alleges that Tri-State's reluctance to swiftly abandon coal is placing an undue burden on its utility payers.
"We're trying to confront the reality that climate change is real and it matters," said
In Craig, the skepticism, sometimes animosity, toward these groups is palatable, even if the citizens may agree with their core missions.
"We have pride in producing energy to switch on the lights, and that pride is well-earned," said
She continued, "This goes to the root of who we are. There's no separating politics from our lifestyle. It's the grassroots efforts here in
For Ponikvar, the chance at prosperity through a more diversified economy is in the hands of his citizens.
"We'll survive, it's just a matter of to what extent."
Close
1 of 23
Caption +
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
b1a08dfa-bdf5-11e8-b952-ef745b34743d
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
A pro-coal sign sits next to the road leading to the Craig Station Power Plant in a front yard in
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
b77f0dc8-bdf5-11e8-b9ab-8f709763c383
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Steam rises from the Craig Station Power Plant in
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
d0c53316-bdf5-11e8-ac4b-67b43dd5f0b0
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
ba90646c-bdf5-11e8-88e2-bfb7a90ab1c0
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Grated levels of the Craig Station Power Plant are lit up during a work day in
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
f29663de-bdf5-11e8-a700-6f8d1e8ed170
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Tri-State Senior Manager of Communications and Public Affairs
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
f58d62c2-bdf5-11e8-a359-072cb597e994
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Safety hard hats, eye wear and ear plugs litter a metal shelf at
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
eefc0a62-bdf5-11e8-a1e8-476de252853f
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
fb8ecc2e-bdf5-11e8-a6e5-37b45faad6ef
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
A hand signal sign hangs on a banister in front of the Boiler Feed Pump block valve inside
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
ec315cd8-bdf5-11e8-a214-37058b7eb4d1
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
e3a58f44-bdf5-11e8-a65f-b739b5101ad4
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
A
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
f910f378-bdf5-11e8-b433-c3120a386a88
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Bike tire tracks and footprints make an imprint in the fine coal dust on the floor in Craig Station Power Plant in
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
de234d86-bdf5-11e8-89fa-07032d9b6f4f
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
A window reveals plumes of steam rising from the cooling tower at
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
e8766e62-bdf5-11e8-8968-df995141d6af
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Craig Station Power Plant begins another day in the early morning in
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
c6b4288c-bdf5-11e8-8e2a-2b8447a665e7
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
A historical picture of
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
ca0ef282-bdf5-11e8-a67c-7bc2c6b13782
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
d72396f8-bdf5-11e8-95f7-cf25172b28a3
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Agricultural land and craig resident's homes have a view of the three units from the Craig Station Power Plant in
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
da13895e-bdf5-11e8-91e9-dbb9b4ddb84d
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Craig's Mayor
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
bd409470-bdf5-11e8-9e06-c75ad11d573c
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Craig residents begin their morning in downtown Craig on
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
b4432c66-bdf5-11e8-8746-63b9754755f6
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
d43e9d7a-bdf5-11e8-bb36-3b219f0258d0
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
A drag line works in the Colowyo open pit mine outside of Craig on
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
c3b74970-bdf5-11e8-9a02-07fc4dd4987b
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Unused mining equipment sits next to the reclamed land that once held a pit mine in
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
c07dd792-bdf5-11e8-aeec-afa870dc414e
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Tri-state Senior Manager of Communications and Public Affairs
* Kelsey Brunner
*
*
*
*
*
addasset
json
cd7a4ee4-bdf5-11e8-bab7-d764769ac75d
editorial
true
images
Save
Show MoreShow Less
1 of 23
Caption +
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
A pro-coal sign sits next to the road leading to the Craig Station Power Plant in a front yard in
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Steam rises from the Craig Station Power Plant in
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Grated levels of the Craig Station Power Plant are lit up during a work day in
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Tri-State Senior Manager of Communications and Public Affairs
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Safety hard hats, eye wear and ear plugs litter a metal shelf at
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
A hand signal sign hangs on a banister in front of the Boiler Feed Pump block valve inside
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
A
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Bike tire tracks and footprints make an imprint in the fine coal dust on the floor in Craig Station Power Plant in
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
A window reveals plumes of steam rising from the cooling tower at
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Craig Station Power Plant begins another day in the early morning in
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
A historical picture of
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Agricultural land and craig resident's homes have a view of the three units from the Craig Station Power Plant in
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Craig's Mayor
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Craig residents begin their morning in downtown Craig on
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
A drag line works in the Colowyo open pit mine outside of Craig on
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Unused mining equipment sits next to the reclamed land that once held a pit mine in
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Caption +
Tri-state Senior Manager of Communications and Public Affairs
* Kelsey Brunner
Show MoreShow Less
Twitter: @lizmforster Phone: 636-0193
___
(c)2018 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Visit The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at www.gazette.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Tight-knit, prosperous Archbold embraces grassroots conservatism
First Chicago Insurance Company Appoints Mark Jatczak Vice President Commercial Lines
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News