People are making claims to support the new candidates that are misleading, skewed and downright outlandish.
That 60 percent of our electricity comes from coal is false! The most recent (2017) annual report from Tri-State places the percentage at 41 percent and it is dropping as they retire several coal-fired facilities. Tri-State is closing these facilities even as the Trump administration rolls back Obama era regulations because it’s what the members asked for.
Simultaneously, renewable generation has grown to 30 percent. A letter to the editor said Xcel energy recently received “jaw-dropping” bids for renewable power. Yes, bids – ideas on paper with no track record or hope of coming to fruition. Journalists in the industry who reviewed these low-ball bids have pointed out these are blatantly unrealistic. The letter writer went on to say Xcel has lower rates without taking into account our vastly different market from urban areas.
Yet another supporter said he worked in a “24/7” industry that switched to solar. No mention was made of any type of electricity storage. His employer must have obtained some new type of solar panel that works in the dark!
The challenging LPEA candidates have publicly stated they know the direction they want to take LPEA. But they’ve never worked a day in the bulk electric power transmission and distribution industry. Starting a new job with preconceived notions is a recipe for disaster. It concerns me enough that I’m supporting and voting for the incumbents.
Barry Lausman
Ignacio
