La Plata Electric Association customers will elect four directors this spring to lead the co-op through major decisions.
One-third of the directors’ seats are up for election, one in each of LPEA’s four districts.
The incumbent directors up for election are:
Mike Alley, who represents District 1, covering Archuleta County.Dan Huntington, a representative for District 2, which covers south and west La Plata County. Doug Lyon, who represents District 3, which encompasses the city of Durango.Jack Turner, who represents District 4, covering north and east La Plata County.Incumbents have not announced whether they will run again.
LPEA recently set a goal to cut its carbon footprint by 50 percent by 2030 while keeping costs lower than 70 percent of its peer cooperatives in Colorado.
A major factor in LPEA’s carbon footprint is the 95 percent of its energy that it is contracted to be purchased from Tri-State Generation and Transmission until 2050.
An LPEA subcommittee is studying power alternatives to Tri-State, and those findings could help guide a decision about LPEA’s future contract with Tri-State.
Election packets for those interested in running will be available starting Friday at LPEA offices in Durango and Pagosa Springs, or online at lpea.coop.
To be placed on the ballot, candidates must return completed petitions to an LPEA office by 1 p.m. March 4. LPEA’s offices are located at 45 Stewart St. in Durango and 603 S. Eighth St. in Pagosa Springs.
Election petitions must contain at least 15 signatures from co-op members in a candidate’s district. A map of LPEA’s voting districts is available on the co-op’s website.
Directors are elected for three-year terms.
Results of the election will be announced May 2 at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
Candidates with questions can contact Jeannie Bennett at 382-3505 or jbennett@lpea.coop.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
