Colorado coal mine to close up by end of year, will lay off 133 workers

DENVER (KDVR) — A Colorado mine in Moffat County will close its doors by Jan. 1, 2026, meaning over 130 workers will be without jobs.

The Colowyo Coal Company is located on Highway 13 northeast of Meeker, where it was first established in 1977. According to the Meeker Chamber of Commerce, the mine has produced high-quality, low-sulfur coal that has been used to generate electricity for rural communities across the West.

The chamber said that about two million tons of coal have been extracted from the mine each year, supporting over 200 jobs and generating $200 million in economic activity for the northwestern Colorado community.

But by the end of the year, the mine will be transitioned into a reclamation phase after coal production has ceased. The mine, owned by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association since 2011, will be reclaimed by the Kiewit Mining Group Inc., which Tri-State touted as having “extensive experience in mine reclamation and environmental stewardship.”

“We’re proud to bring our proven expertise in mine reclamation and environmental stewardship to the Colowyo Mine reclamation project and appreciate the trust Tri-State has placed in us,” said Jay Johnson, executive vice president of Kiewit Mining Group, in an August announcement. “We look forward to leading this effort and recognize the value the current workforce brings. We are committed to executing the work safely and responsibly while supporting Colowyo’s skilled employees as we transition the site into its next phase.”

The company filed a WARN notice with Colorado to share that 133 employees would be laid off, with positions ranging from management to engineers and from health and safety to building services assistants.