A power outage at the Suncor Energy refinery in Commerce City, Colorado, caused flaring and black smoke on May 11, 2024 [1, 2].

The incident sparked concern among residents and commuters as plumes of smoke became visible from Brighton Boulevard and across the city of Denver [2, 3].

According to reports, a power failure affected three of the company's plants [4]. This loss of electricity triggered the flaring process, which resulted in a steady flame and the discharge of dark smoke into the atmosphere [1, 4].

While some initial reports suggested a fire was the cause of the smoke, other accounts clarified that the outage prompted the flaring [2, 3]. The visual impact of the smoke was significant enough to attract attention from those traveling along major transit corridors [1].

"The power outage prompted a steady flame and black smoke that raised the eyebrows of commuters along Brighton Boulevard," a Westword reporter said [1].

Suncor's facility in Commerce City is a major industrial site located near the Denver metropolitan area. The occurrence of flaring during power instabilities is a known industrial response to manage pressure, and safety, when primary systems fail [1, 4].

“A power outage affected three of the company's plants”

This incident highlights the vulnerability of critical energy infrastructure to power instabilities. When refineries experience sudden electricity loss, flaring is often used as a safety mechanism to prevent dangerous pressure build-up, though it results in visible air pollution that can cause public alarm in densely populated areas like Denver.