My agenda? Clean energy. I’m an LPEA director and these opinions are mine. I’m responding to the letter from former LPEA director Davin Montoya (“
The energy business has changed; and change is difficult.
The electric power business at one time was easy. Dig coal, burn coal, send the juice to the lines. But burning fossil fuels has caused the planet to overheat. That is indisputable.
Fortunately, entrepreneurs – helped by government research – are now supplying clean energy throughout the world. Unfortunately, here in the sunny Southwest, LPEA is getting a sliver of a fraction of that clean energy because we are chained to Tri-State, its coal plants and its enormous debt.
In 2020, LPEA has spent nearly $1 million in legal fees trying to get out of our ridiculous, 50-year Tri-State contract. That amount rankles Davin, and me too.
But representing a $100 million company owned by members, it is the fiduciary responsibility of LPEA’s elected board to do everything it can to deliver the best power possible to you.
Consider this: If I told you that spending just 1% of LPEA’s budget in 2020 could save LPEA members $300 million or more over the next 30 years, would you consider that a good deal? I’m pretty sure most people would.
Davin says I have a personal agenda, and he’s right. My agenda: Do what I can to gain local control of our power supply, create local jobs and deliver clean, affordable power to you.
Joe LewandowskiDurango
