BOULDER, COLORADO — Xcel Energy is moving forward with a cleanup project at its former coal-fired Valmont Power Station near Boulder, where the company plans to address coal ash contamination and related groundwater concerns, officials said. Colorado regulators are reviewing the company’s updated cleanup plan, with construction potentially beginning later in 2026, according to reports and regulatory information.
The project focuses on removing and managing coal ash left from decades of operations at the Valmont site, which Xcel used for coal generation before retiring its last coal unit there in 2017, according to the company and state officials. The site contains a large coal ash disposal area that regulators have required Xcel to address under environmental rules.
Xcel’s cleanup plan includes excavating coal ash and treating contaminated groundwater, officials said. The company has proposed processing the removed material on site and using approved methods for disposal and reuse, according to project information. The full cleanup is expected to take several years, with the company estimating that restoration work will continue over an extended period.
On Monday, Xcel officials said the company was continuing to work with state regulators and local stakeholders to meet environmental requirements. “We will comply with all state air quality requirements,” an Xcel spokesperson said previously in comments reported by Boulder Reporting Lab regarding monitoring and cleanup plans.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has been involved in reviewing the project. State officials previously rejected an earlier version of Xcel’s cleanup proposal, citing concerns about health protections and other issues, before the company continued revising its plans, according to regulatory reports.
The project has drawn attention from nearby residents and environmental advocates, who have raised questions about air monitoring and potential impacts during excavation. Community members have requested additional monitoring measures as coal ash is disturbed, while Xcel has said it will follow required safeguards during the work.
Coal ash can contain materials such as metals and other contaminants, and federal and state regulations require utilities to manage coal ash disposal sites to reduce risks to groundwater and surrounding areas. Officials said the Valmont cleanup is intended to address contamination associated with historical coal ash storage.
As of Sunday, regulators were continuing to review the project’s next steps. Xcel had not announced a final completion date for the cleanup, and details of some construction activities remained subject to regulatory approval and future updates.
