La Plata Electric Association customers voted two newcomers and two incumbents onto the association’s board after some close races and an election upset, according to final results released during the LPEA annual meeting Saturday.
The election centered around the association’s contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission, affordable rates and the future of renewable energy investment. Six candidates vied for three seats, each with a three-year term, on the LPEA board, and about 7,600 customers voted.
Rachel Landis, an incumbent candidate, will represent District 3, the city of Durango, after receiving 1,764 votes. Her competitor, Dave Nulton, received 693 votes.
In an election upset, newcomer candidate Sue McWilliams won against incumbent Guinn Unger. McWilliams will represent District 4, north and east La Plata County, after earning 1,330 votes. Unger received 1,261 votes.
Newcomer John Lee Jr. will represent District 2, south and west La Plata County, after receiving 1,286 votes. He won against newcomer Doug Fults, who earned 1,259 votes.
“I’m disappointed in two of the three races,” Unger said, referring to his own race and the District 2 results. “I’ve obviously spent the last three years trying to do what I think is moving LPEA forward. I don’t think that these races help that go forward.”
Bob Lynch, an incumbent candidate, ran unopposed. He will represent District 1, Archuleta County.
“In District 3, it’s pretty apparent that folks want someone who has some experience and knowledge,” Landis said, referring to her past experience on the board. “They want us to figure this out, and they want levelheaded leadership.”
LPEA is contracted to buy 95% of its power from Tri-State until 2050. The requirement severely limits how much outside renewable power the co-op can purchase.
LPEA has been exploring alternatives to purchasing electricity from Tri-State for months because Tri-State, a wholesale electric supplier, caps at 5.4% the amount of renewable energy LPEA can purchase from outside sources.
Some LPEA members are interested in buying out of the Tri-State contract because it could give LPEA greater freedom to purchase renewable energy and lessen the co-op’s dependence on coal. Landis and Unger were among those board members.
Lee did not mention the Tri-State contract in his candidate statement, and he did not want to be contacted for the story.
“I believe all of the directors are in favor of more renewable energy and low prices,” said McWilliams, who supported Tri-State’s plan to increase renewables to 50% by 2024 in her candidate statement. She said the debate is between how that goal is achieved.
Landis and Unger expect the board will continue to explore either leaving the Tri-State completely, a partial buyout or staying in the contract until 2050. The board is waiting for Tri-State to release the cost of a complete buyout before deciding on the future of the contract.
“The board still has a strong majority to continue forward with that, trying to figure it out,” Unger said.
San Juan Citizens Alliance, an environmental advocacy nonprofit, contributed about $19,700 to three candidates: Landis, who received $8,000; Unger, $6,400; and Fults, $5,300.
Common Sense LPEA, a group that supports Tri-State and opposes San Juan Citizens Alliance, contributed $1,500 to Lee and $3,900 to McWilliams.
smullane@durangoherald.com
