Tri-State Archives - San Juan Citizens Alliance

Jul 06 2022

Electric co-ops cut costs through independence

By Mark Pearson Durango Herald Column, Energy Transition, LPEA Spotlight No Comments

June marks a significant milestone among rural electric cooperatives within the Tri-State system, notably for our neighbor Kit Carson Electric Cooperative in Taos, New Mexico. Six years ago, Kit Carson blazed a new path for electric co-ops in our region…

Apr 01 2022

Local electric supplies set for big change

By Mark Pearson Durango Herald Column, Energy Transition, LPEA Spotlight No Comments

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.…

Jan 20 2022

Region’s future electricity supply in play

By Mark Pearson Durango Herald Column, Energy Transition No Comments

Electricity customers across Southwest Colorado have the opportunity this month to provide feedback about the future of our electricity supply. The Colorado Public Utility Commission is reviewing plans for long-term electric generation resources put forth by Tri-State Generation and Transmission,…

Jun 01 2021

Transparency, Rate Reductions, & the 2021 LPEA Election

By sjca LPEA Spotlight No Comments

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 No Comments

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…

Apr 19 2021

States Pursue Competing Energy Visions

By Mark Pearson Durango Herald Column, Renewable Energy No Comments

Colorado and Wyoming are on rapidly diverging paths to distinctly different energy futures. Colorado’s Legislature next week will contemplate further greenhouse gas emissions reductions, with stricter requirements for rapid transition away from coal and other carbon emitting fuels. The intent…

Jan 22 2021

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

By sjca No Comments

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 No Comments

Nov 06 2020

Colorado Emissions Roadmap a Chance for Cleaner Power

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy No Comments

Oct 21 2020

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

By sjca Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Take Action No Comments

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Sep 30 2020

Waiting for a Verdict

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy No Comments

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 No Comments

Jul 24 2020

Colorado PUC Sides With LPEA

By sjca LPEA Spotlight No Comments

Jul 20 2020

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

By Mark Pearson Coal, Durango Herald Column, Renewable Energy No Comments

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 No Comments

May 31 2020

Race to the PUC

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy No Comments

Mar 20 2020

LPEA Drives Statewide Policy Change

By Mark Pearson Durango Herald Column, Renewable Energy No Comments

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 No Comments

Jan 24 2020

Tri-State Reveals New Energy Plan

By sjca Coal, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy No Comments

Jan 16 2020

Tri-State Announces Responsible Energy Plan

By sjca Coal, Energy Transition, Renewable Energy No Comments

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 No Comments

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 No Comments

Nov 26 2019

LPEA Files With PUC for Just Exit Charge

By sjca Climate Change, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy No Comments

Sep 11 2019

Opportunities for Change

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy No Comments

Sep 11 2019

Take Action: Stand Up For Clean Energy In Colorado

By sjca Coal, Energy Transition, Renewable Energy 3 Comments

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 No Comments

Jul 25 2019

Tensions Rise with Big Shifts at Tri-State

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy 2 Comments

Jun 27 2019

Tri-State Seeks FERC Regulation

By sjca Climate Change, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy One Comment

Apr 16 2019

Congress Investigates Tri-State for Role in Secretive Lobbying Group

By sjca Climate Change, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy No Comments

Apr 01 2019

Are we really Better Together?

By sjca LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy No Comments

Mar 18 2019

Decisions loom about local electric supply

By Mark Pearson Climate Change, Coal, Renewable Energy 2 Comments

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.…

Dec 20 2018

Tri-State in Trouble

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

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 No Comments

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…

Sep 17 2018

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

By sjca LPEA Spotlight No Comments

May 23 2018

A new year at LPEA

By sjca Coal, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy No Comments

Jan 04 2018

We’ve lost democratic control of our power supply

By sjca Climate Change, Coal, LPEA Spotlight, Renewable Energy 2 Comments

Oct 26 2017

Three Steps Forward – LPEA Spotlight: Oct ‘17

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

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 No Comments

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 No Comments

“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…

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