Weekly civic intelligence report · v2.2
The Trump administration directed a Colorado coal generator to remain operational, intervening in what would have been a facility closure. The action reflects the administration's support for coal energy.
This action scores 8.8 on constitutional damage (below 25 threshold) with moderate regulatory capture (3) and separation of powers concerns (2) from executive intervention in energy markets. Rule of law impact (2) reflects federal override of market-driven closure. Single-state scope and narrow population significantly reduce impact. B-score of 16.6 reflects moderate hype driven by coal/climate culture war framing and symbolic policy signaling to base, but lacks viral potential. The D-score of -7.8 shows slight hype dominance but both scores are well below thresholds. This is classic symbolic policy: high visibility, low constitutional impact, designed for political signaling rather than substantive governance change. The mechanism is legitimate policy change but the action is reversible, affects one facility, and primarily serves narrative purposes.
Monitor for pattern: if administration systematically intervenes to prevent coal facility closures nationwide, reassess for regulatory capture escalation and precedent-setting. Single incident remains noise-level symbolic politics.