I am writing to encourage La Plata Electric Association members to cast their votes for Mark Garcia and Jack Turner when ballots are mailed out April 15.
I want to make sure that we are electing board members who understand the importance of fighting for our local energy economy.
Seventy percent of the revenue that LPEA generates every year is sent out of state to pay Tri-State for the energy we buy, and LPEA continues to be beholden to a contract that obligates us to buy 95 percent of our energy from them. This contract combines with LPEA’s rate structure to prevent us from taking full advantage of a great economic opportunity.
LPEA’s service area is full of growing renewable energy companies that could be providing many more jobs and putting many more dollars into our local economy.
I am concerned that changes in LPEA’s rates have put a considerable burden on consumers who want to take advantage of their services. Over the past five years, LPEA has increased the fixed fees on your electric bill by 60 percent. These fees put a huge dent in the incentive for consumers to invest in things like solar panels.
Mark Garcia and Jack Turner recognized the importance of encouraging our local energy industry and voted against every increase of these fees. I encourage all of you to vote for local industry and vote for Mark and Jack.
Matthew Sheldon
Durango
