More heat than light is being generated over this year’s LPEA Board of Directors election.
Some are painting it as a choice between those who would “break” the contract with Tri-State, which requires LPEA to buy 95 percent of our power from them, and those who would continue this contract. This group claims that buying out the contract would cost some astronomical sum, a figure based on conjecture rather than fact, and result in power outages and high rates throughout our region. But this is a straw man argument.
The actual choice is between those who want to investigate whether buying out the Tri-State contract would be a good deal for LPEA — who want to study the issue on its merits — and those who refuse to even consider it. The cost of producing power from old coal plants is rising, and the cost of renewable power is falling. Local power generation will fuel local economic prosperity. Doesn’t it make sense to at least examine the possibilities?
During his tenure on the LPEA board, Britt Bassett has been a solidly sensible voice for the membership. His local roots run deep — he grew up in Bayfield — and his engineering training and business experience give him the background to understand the challenges LPEA faces. I trust him to evaluate the options from an engineering and financial perspective, and pursue the best course for the co-op and its stakeholders.
Please vote to re-elect Britt Bassett.
Ilana Stern
Durango
