As the La Plata Electric Association election approaches, I’m struck by two things that I recently learned. First, the 7.35 cents that LPEA paid to buy one kilowatt hour of electricity from Tri-State in 2017 is more than double what the co-op paid in 2000 (3.54 cents).
Second, federal subsidies have strongly favored fossil fuels over other U.S. energy sources (nuclear, biofuels, renewables).
Why are we paying more for dirtier energy that is dangerous to our health when there are other options?
Jeff Mannix is running for the LPEA board seat in District 2 and is fully prepared to help keep rates down and protect your health at the same time. He is a rancher with excellent ideas for developing local economic opportunities on ranch land. This allows ranches to stay in the family instead of being sold to developers and provides kids a way to take over the family business without worrying about being forced to leave in order to make a living.
You’ll be happy to know that LPEA has adopted the long-term strategic goal to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 percent from 2018 levels by year 2030, while keeping its cost of electricity lower than 70 percent of its Colorado rural electric cooperative peers.
Jeff Mannix will help local ranchers be an integral part of fulfilling this goal!
Since the usual voter turnout is around 25 percent, your vote will have extra impact in the LPEA election.
Lauri Costello
Durango
