I am writing in response to a letter to the editor Mr. John Beebe (
First, he claims that “progressive” candidates for the LPEA board want to exit LPEA’s contract with Tri-State. None of the candidates have voiced this opinion; they are simply in support of considering LPEA’s options.
Then, Mr. Beebe asserts that a buyout would cost LPEA $400 million, a misleading claim. Regardless of whether or not this number is true (it is unclear how Mr. Beebe calculated it when the LPEA board itself isn’t sure of a number), he neglects to point out that the savings from a buyout could negate these costs.
I would specifically like to point to Mr. Beebe’s reiteration of Tri-State’s claim that they are “supplying us with 30 percent renewable electricity today, two full years ahead of the State mandated 20 percent by 2020.” This is not true. Two-thirds of Tri-State’s self-calculated renewables portfolio is generated by federal hydropower, which is not considered renewable under Colorado State mandate. Construction of these dams preceded the existence of Tri-State.
We need LPEA directors who will look past the big, inflammatory numbers and find out what they actually mean, who will work hard for LPEA members rather than blindly defending Tri-State. Vote for Bassett, Wheeler, Mannix or Skeehan before May 12.
Erika Brown
Durango
