Let Durango again lead in electrical energy generation.
Quoting from the website of Durango Discovery Museum: “In 1892, the Durango Light and Power Company embraced a fledgling technology known as AC power, the object of both marvel and derision. Outlawed as too dangerous in some Eastern states, the founders’ investment soon became the standard for powering the world.”
Today, we are again at the threshold of a technology change. First, dirty coal is being replaced by natural gas as the fossil fuel of choice and by renewable-energy sources based on wind, solar and geothermal. Second, we are experiencing a switch from centralized power generation at large plants to decentralized, local generation using renewable technology.
Unfortunately, Tri-State Generation, our wholesale electric power supplier, relies predominantly on coal-fired energy, which is a major source of climate-changing greenhouse gases. Each year, La Plata Electric Association customers pay more than $70 million for this kind of dirty energy, the majority of it generated outside of Colorado. Fortunately, solar energy and other renewable-energy technologies are becoming less expensive than coal-fired power. In addition, these technologies are environmentally clean, create local jobs and contribute to greater self-reliance.
As Durango and La Plata County made the forward-thinking choice 120 years ago by choosing AC power, let us again embrace energy-smart technologies supporting our local economic resiliency. Jeff Berman and Alison Dance, candidates in the upcoming LPEA board election, will make the financially prudent and environmentally wise decisions ensuring affordable electrical energy.
Please re-elect Jeff Berman in District 3 and vote for Allison Dance in District 4 in the upcoming board election for La Plata Electric Association, our locally owned cooperative.
Werner Heiber
Durango
