LPEA Archives - San Juan Citizens Alliance

Apr 01 2022

Local electric supplies set for big change

By Mark Pearson Durango Herald Column, Energy Transition, LPEA Spotlight

La Plata Electric Association’s board of directors voted in February to dramatically revamp our local source of electricity. In a unanimous decision, the board agreed to a partial buyout of its existing electricity supply contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission.…

Jun 29 2021

July LPEA Spotlight

By Emelie Frojen LPEA Spotlight

LPEA Election Results We’re thrilled that the LPEA elections resulted in a majority board supportive of local renewable energy. The results were: District 1 (Archuleta County): incumbent Kirsten Skeehan (1,281 votes) defeated Veronica Medina (434 votes).District 2 (south and west…

Jun 01 2021

Transparency, Rate Reductions, & the 2021 LPEA Election

By sjca LPEA Spotlight

This blog series covers the monthly La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) Board of Directors meetings. We’re tracking the board for transparency and accountability, as well as to stay current on their renewable energy initiatives. Find past and future spotlights here. Get…

May 26 2021

Electric Co-ops Boost Local Energy Supplies

By Mark Pearson Durango Herald Column, Renewable Energy

An inspiring story of rapid energy transition is playing out in a neighboring rural electric cooperative in northern New Mexico. Just recently, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative announced it is ahead of schedule to complete several solar projects by the end…

Jan 22 2021

Tri-State in 2021: What’s Ahead for Rural Colorado’s Energy Transition, with Tri-State CEO Duane Highley

By sjca

If you live in Southwest Colorado, your electricity comes from Tri-State Generation & Transmission. Tri-State is the electricity provider for 18 of Colorado's rural electric co-ops, including LPEA and EEA. What happens at Tri-State makes a transformative difference for the…

Nov 28 2020

Tri-State Plans to Cut Emissions But Flaws Are Exposed

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Nov 06 2020

Colorado Emissions Roadmap a Chance for Cleaner Power

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Oct 21 2020

Take Action: Hold Tri-State to Higher Carbon Reduction Standards

By sjca Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Take Action

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Sep 30 2020

Waiting for a Verdict

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Sep 10 2020

TAKE ACTION: Keep LPEA Moving Towards Clean Energy

By sjca Coal, Energy Transition, Renewable Energy, Take Action

Keep LPEA’s Exit Charge Case in Colorado LPEA has made huge headway in its fight for cleaner, cheaper power here in Southwest Colorado. But by illegally adding new members to the cooperative “family”, Tri-State qualified for federal regulation – pre-empting…

Sep 01 2020

Another FERC Curveball

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Jul 24 2020

Colorado PUC Sides With LPEA

By sjca LPEA Spotlight

Jul 20 2020

Electric Co-ops Closer to Securing Tri-State Exit Fees

By Mark Pearson Coal, Durango Herald Column, Renewable Energy

Last week, La Plata Electric Association inched closer to gaining the basic information it has long desired to evaluate whether it makes sense to stay with Tri-State Generation and Transmission as its wholesale electricity supplier or jump ship to potentially…

Jun 30 2020

Tri-State Files First Phase of Resource Plan

By sjca LPEA Spotlight

May 31 2020

Race to the PUC

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Mar 20 2020

LPEA Drives Statewide Policy Change

By Mark Pearson Durango Herald Column, Renewable Energy

The transformation in Colorado’s energy landscape over the past year is nothing short of breathtaking. A good part of that transformation owes to the leadership of La Plata Electric Association. Who might have imagined a year ago that LPEA would…

Feb 26 2020

Unsolved Problems

By sjca Energy Transition, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Jan 24 2020

Tri-State Reveals New Energy Plan

By sjca Coal, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Jan 16 2020

Tri-State Announces Responsible Energy Plan

By sjca Coal, Energy Transition, Renewable Energy

Photo: WildEarth Guardians Last week, Tri-State announced it intended to close its Colorado and New Mexico coal generation assets ahead of schedule. This week Tri-State made a second announcement on its Responsible Energy Plan. Notably, Tri-State will: Strive for 100%…

Jan 09 2020

Tri-State Announces Coal Retirements But Flaws Remain In Energy Plan

By sjca Climate Change, Coal, Energy Transition, Renewable Energy

Today Tri-State announced the first part of their long-awaited Responsible Energy Plan, which described their intention to close two coal plants and one coal mine ahead of schedule. While the plan shows that Tri-State is finally starting to shift their…

Dec 19 2019

A Recap of LPEA’s Year

By sjca Climate Change, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Nov 26 2019

LPEA Files With PUC for Just Exit Charge

By sjca Climate Change, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Sep 11 2019

Opportunities for Change

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Sep 11 2019

Take Action: Stand Up For Clean Energy In Colorado

By sjca Coal, Energy Transition, Renewable Energy

A Rulemaking to Hold Tri-State Accountable The Colorado Public Utilities Commission is holding a rulemaking process through October 15th about Tri-State's Electric Resource Plan (ERP), which will fundamentally impact co-op customers for years to come. The ERP is a long-term…

Aug 28 2019

Interventions and Rulemakings for Tri-State

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Jul 25 2019

Tensions Rise with Big Shifts at Tri-State

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Jun 27 2019

Tri-State Seeks FERC Regulation

By sjca Climate Change, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Jun 27 2019

Our Future Power Supply – Pagosa Springs

By sjca

LPEA's Future Power Supply Information Series July 1st at 6:30 pm Ross Aragon Center, Pagosa Springs The Power Supply Committee has finished their work and LPEA is presenting their findings to the public during the month of July! Come ask…

May 29 2019

New Beginnings at LPEA

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Apr 29 2019

Power Supply Committee Gives Recommendations

By sjca Climate Change, Coal, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Apr 16 2019

Congress Investigates Tri-State for Role in Secretive Lobbying Group

By sjca Climate Change, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Apr 01 2019

Are we really Better Together?

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Mar 18 2019

Decisions loom about local electric supply

By Mark Pearson Climate Change, Coal, Renewable Energy

Spring is in the air, and with it comes potentially big changes for our electric power supply. Leadership changes abound at both our local rural electric cooperative, La Plata Electric Association, and its wholesale electric supplier, Tri-State Generating and Transmission.…

Feb 28 2019

LPEA is listening to you

By sjca Climate Change, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Jan 22 2019

LPEA Sets Carbon Reduction Goal

By sjca Climate Change, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Dec 20 2018

Tri-State in Trouble

By sjca Climate Change, Coal, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

This blog series covers the monthly La Plata Electric Association (LPEA)* Board of Directors meetings. We’re tracking the board for transparency and accountability, as well as to stay current on their renewable energy initiatives. Find past and future spotlights here. Get…

Dec 15 2018

Change Confronts Rural Electric Co-ops

By Mark Pearson Climate Change, Coal, Durango Herald Column, Green Business, Renewable Energy

Photo: Wildearth Guardians, Flickr The comedian Lily Tomlin used to have a favorite shtick where she played Ernestine, the snorting, smirking phone operator. She would end her bit with the line, “We don’t care, we don’t have to, we’re the…

Dec 04 2018

Climate Action Happy Hour

By Erika Brown

Climate Action Happy Hour Monday, December 10th 5-6:30 pm Carver Brewing, Durango You're invited to join us and our friends at Conservation Colorado to discuss the future of renewable energy for our region and actions we can take to encourage…

Nov 30 2018

LPEA hires consultants to research energy supply options

By sjca Climate Change, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Sep 17 2018

You did it! LPEA board launches investigation of energy supply options

By sjca LPEA Spotlight

May 23 2018

A new year at LPEA

By sjca Coal, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Apr 27 2018

Did you get your LPEA ballot?

By sjca Climate Change, Coal, LPEA Spotlight, Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy

Around 800 ballots were not delivered on time. If you didn't receive yours (or if you threw it away), call LPEA immediately. LPEA: (970) 247-5786 Did you vote yet?! If you buy electricity from LPEA, your ballot should have arrived in…

Apr 12 2018

Renewable Randy and the Tri-State Façade

By sjca LPEA Spotlight

Feb 28 2018

The questions between the statements

By sjca LPEA Spotlight

Feb 21 2018

LPEA approves energy supply review subcommittee

By sjca Climate Change, Coal, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Feb 18 2018

La Plata Electric Association grapples with era of change

By Mark Pearson Climate Change, Coal, Durango Herald Column, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

It’s a challenging time for La Plata Electric Association. The electric utility world is undergoing a classic technology disruption, where rapid advances threaten to upend decades-old business models. LPEA is locked into a contract for the next 30 years with…

Feb 15 2018

LPEA to vote on future of long-term energy supply review

By sjca Climate Change, Coal, LPEA Spotlight

Feb 15 2018

La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) Board Meeting

By sjca

Public comment is first thing at 9am. This month they're voting on the future of a subcommittee to study LPEA's long-term power supply options in a rapidly changing energy economy. Learn more. Tell LPEA that studying the future is critical:…

Feb 01 2018

Local Non-Profits Ask FERC to Deny Tri-State Petition

By sjca Climate Change, Coal, Renewable Energy

Regulations around energy production can be complicated, but it's also really important to our region's ability to pursue local renewable energy through our rural cooperatives. This week, we joined forces with our partners at Local First to file a motion to…

Jan 26 2018

Why does LPEA need a long-term strategy review?

By sjca Climate Change, Coal, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Jan 25 2018

LPEA Election Open House

By sjca

Come, eat, drink, and learn why we need to elect an active, forward thinking LPEA Board of Directors. Let’s band together to lower rates for everyone with local, renewable energy! DID YOU KNOW? Renewable energy costs in Colorado are now…

Jan 04 2018

We’ve lost democratic control of our power supply

By sjca Climate Change, Coal, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Nov 21 2017

What do renewable energy advocates actually want?

By sjca Climate Change, Coal, LPEA Spotlight

Oct 26 2017

Three Steps Forward – LPEA Spotlight: Oct ‘17

By sjca Climate Change, Coal, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy

Photo: Anna Peterson This blog series covers the monthly La Plata Electric Association (LPEA)* Board of Directors meetings. We’re tracking the board for transparency and accountability, as well as to stay current on their renewable energy initiatives. Find past and future…

Aug 21 2017

Power struggle with Tri-State won’t end soon

By Mark Pearson Coal

A few weeks ago, we sent forth our champion with bated breath and hopeful expectations to plead our case before Tri-State, to please allow us to generate more electricity locally here at home in La Plata Electric Association’s service area.…

Jun 16 2017

West’s utilities abandon coal because it costs too much

By Mark Pearson Climate Change, Coal, Durango Herald Column

“It’s all about the economics,” the expert said. “Technologies have improved to make other forms of energy less expensive than coal.” One might figure sure, that’s some tree-hugging environmentalist arguing for solar and wind energy. But in fact, that’s the…

May 02 2017

The Rising Tide of Renewable Energy

By sjca Climate Change, Coal

By Guest Blogger: Donna Stewart Part I in a four part series on Renewable Energy. See Part II,Solar Power: Who Came Up With That?? and Part III, Check'n New Solar System(s) “A dam about to break.” That’s how Chris Riley, President…

Apr 18 2016

Momentum for change

By Erika Brown Climate Change, Coal

It's election time! No, not that one. There's one here locally from which the presidential race could learn some lessons. Imagine if the national election were more like that of our local La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) Board of Directors: 2 months…

Apr 16 2015

LPEA needs leaders with vision, expertise

By sjca Climate Change, Coal, Durango Herald Column, Renewable Energy

We live in exciting times. Just how exciting? Check this out. What was a fairly sedate affair historically – the La Plata Electric Association annual board of director’s election – has transformed into a proxy vote for the community’s vision…

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