Area high school students Chandler Jackson of Bayfield, Chloe Ciotti and Rebecca Schaldach of Durango, and Regan Richardson of Pagosa Springs have been selected to represent La Plata Electric Association as part of the National Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington D.C. scheduled for June 12-18.

"This trip is a tremendous opportunity for our area juniors," said Mike Dreyspring, CEO of LPEA. "Our communities, as well as the country and the world are facing many challenges in the energy arena, and the industry is changing, so it's important that our next generation gain an understanding about energy policy development at the federal level. We are pleased to be able to further that education."

Students completed an application and penned a 500-word essay covering an aspect of the electric industry of their choosing. LPEA's student representatives will join juniors from the cooperative's sister electric co-ops across Colorado for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. The schedule includes an intimate look at the nation's capitol and the government from the inside, including discussion of current concerns with national and state Congressional representatives. Tours of Washington D.C.'s monuments and museums, plus social activities, are also part of the agenda.

Chandler Jackson, a junior at Bayfield High School, addressed wind as a renewable resource in his essay: "Wind turbines are innovative structures that make use of an abundant natural resource, wind, to produce electricity. It's environmentally friendly, and reasonably inexpensive. Wind power technology was a major development in the electric utility industry, and will become a significant and integral source of electricity production in years to come."

The opportunity to participate in the D.C. Youth Tour is open to all current high school juniors, including home-schooled students, who receive their electric power from La Plata Electric Association. LPEA annually underwrites the cost of the trip for up to four students within its service territory - one from each school district. No applications for the 2015 trip were received from Ignacio.

Applications for the 2016 Washington D.C. Youth Tour will be available in November 2015 at LPEA's offices in Durango and Pagosa Springs, through area high school counselors, or on the web, www.lpea.coop.