We all need to start paying attention to what is happening with our electricity provider, LPEA. Our country is in the midst of enormous change in how, where, and when we get electricity. This is not just an issue with LPEA but all electric utilities.
I was fortunate to have attended the latest Green Business Roundtable lunch to hear what Bryan Hamegan, President and CEO of Holy Cross Electric, also a member owned electricity co-op in Western Colorado, had to say. He pretty much made “sense” of all the complications in providing affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy to their members. The complexity is mind-boggling.
I was extremely pleased to see several LPEA employees and board members at this lunch, who I can only assume were equally interested and intrigued in what Bryan had to say since many stayed on for another hour of Q & A.
LPEA has an additional challenge keeping our electricity “affordable” and environmentally sound because we cannot diversify, as Holy Cross has been able to do. LPEA is under contract to purchase 95 percent of our electricity from Tri-State which acquires 65 percent from coal fired power plants. The contract was signed in 2007 when electricity sourcing and transmission were much less complicated.
I have attended several board meetings and am shocked that many board members seem to be resistant to the current technologies that are “disrupting” energy markets.
Vote in the upcoming election and confirm your candidate is clear on the consequences of the status quo.
Louise van Vonno
Durango
