A recent letter (Herald, May 11) relies on outdated and misleading talking points about Tri-State’s approximate $2.6 billion debt. The debt is primarily backed by long-term, low-interest federal loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These funds supported renewable energy projects, major transmission upgrades and early coal plant closures required under state and federal clean energy mandates.
Far from doing “nothing,” Tri-State has already paid down $1 billion in debt since 2020, all while keeping its wholesale rate flat at 7.4 cents/kWh – regulated and approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
That’s financial discipline and stability. And Tri-State’s financials are all public record. Now compare that to LPEA’s new partner, Mercuria Energy, a private, unregulated international trading firm with no generation assets, over $8.6 billion in unsecured credit and no obligation to LPEA’s members. Their business model is speculative trading – not delivering affordable, reliable power.
LPEA didn’t reduce risk. It traded a member-owned, federally regulated co-op for a Wall Street energy trader with no hard assets locally and zero accountability.
Instead of clean energy certainty, we’re now exposed to market volatility and vague promises. Before anyone cheers, “market based solutions,” ask yourself: “Who benefits from this new market?” Because it’s not the ratepayers. This is not a partisan issue, it’s a financial one. Vote new LPEA leadership.
Deborah D. Shisler
Durango
