Recently, The Durango Herald endorsed three La Plata Electric Association candidates for its board of directors. The Herald endorsements are for the most part mistaken.
The Herald endorsed Davin Montoya, endorsing Davin’s position that renewables are too expensive. Perhaps that was true in the past, but not now. Now, renewable power provides the lowest electric rates and it will in the future too.
Davin’s position that renewables are partially underwritten by higher rates on conventional energy sources is misleading, as it only applies to net-metered renewables. To enjoy low-cost, clean, local power, LPEA needs to escape Tri-State’s 5 percent cap on locally generated power and be allowed to independently build, own and generate local renewable power.
However, Davin so far has consistently supported Tri-State’s argument that we must rely solely upon them for our electric power, to the detriment of LPEA members. The wisest choice of candidates for the LPEA board in District 2 is Kim Martin.
The Herald also endorsed Joe Wheeling, stating that his current leadership position as the vice chair on the Tri-State board should be preserved. However, that is precisely the reason that Joe should not be re-elected. Joe’s position on the Tri-State board pays him fees from Tri-State that are more than double what LPEA pays him. This suggests that Joe is Tri-State’s representative on LPEA’s board, not LPEA’s representative on the Tri-State board. We need a new LPEA director in District 4 that will work for us, someone who will advocate for LPEA members’ interests first. It is wiser for LPEA members in District 2 to vote for Guinn Unger.
The two incumbents on the LPEA board that the Herald endorsed support policies from the past that just aren’t going to help us in the future. We need new LPEA board members that are prepared to adapt to the new landscape in the electric power world and will keep in mind that they represent all LPEA cooperative members.
The three candidates who are best suited to do this are Guinn Unger in District 4, Rachel Landis in District 3,and Kim Martin in District 2. Please vote for them.
Tim Wheeler
Durango
