La Plata PACE 2010 La Plata Electric Association 2009  On May 18, 2009 we knocked on the first doors for our campaign to reform the priorities and policies of Colorado electric co-ops, or Rural Electric Associations.  Our goal is for the co-ops to maximize the potential of energy efficiency and electric generation from local renewable sources.  The success of this program depends upon the management of the co-ops which are governed by board of directors that are voted into office by the consumers (co-op members).  We either need the current boards to be proactive in implementing these priorities, or we need to elect board members who will be.  Co-op members are writing to their board representatives telling them that change is needed.  We will be following the actions of the board and keeping members up to date.  Come election time, we will encourage co-op members to vote for the candidates who most support our goals. La Plata Electric Asssociation You have the power! To determine our energy future… Did you know that your electric company, La Plata Electric Association (LPEA), is a co-op?  You get to vote every year for members of the board of directors.  The directors make policies that determine the affordability, reliability, and environmental responsibility of our electric system.  This is the greatest opportunity that you have as a citizen and consumer to move our country in a more sustainable direction, battle rising energy costs, and create local energy jobs. For a rate increase of 2%  ($1.63 per month on average) we can put over $2.18 million per year into a fund for efficiency and local renewable generation.  If that money was used only to buy Compact Fluorescent Lights we could save $570 per customer at a cost of $51.90 per customer.  If we spent the next year’s fund only on solar panels we could generate 246 kW, enough to power 82 homes for 20 - 30 years.  The money could be used for wind turbines, geothermal heat pumps, weather stripping, insulation, efficient appliances, energy audits, and more, each saving us money, stimulating the local economy, and reducing environmental damage. This investment will pay for itself and is essential in striving toward energy independence and building a local energy economy.  Local production reduces our dependence on coal-generated power purchased from Tri-State, our electric wholesaler.  We should reduce this dependence because of the environmental implications of coal and because the cost of coal is constantly rising and predicted to skyrocket due to international demand and federal carbon restriction laws.  Tri-State is planning on spending $5 Billion on new coal plants. We will have to pay for that if we don’t find other ways to get our power.  Even as the price of coal rises, the price of renewable energy is coming down.  Not only will local renewable energy be cheaper in the future but it generates jobs in sales, construction, and maintenance of equipment.  Instead of giving most of our electric money away to Tri-State we can recirculate our energy dollars in the local economy.  Change is never easy and these advancements are not likely to happen without a lot of pressure from us the consumers and voters.  Community for Sustainable Energy is working with other groups and co-op members throughout the region to improve our electric co-ops and we need your involvement to make it happen.  Write a short letter, get involved in future meetings and activities, and vote in your board election next May.  As a co-op member, you own this utility and collectively we have the power to make a change.     Write a short note to the LPEA board of directors.  Please personalize as much as possible. Tell them:  -That you want a rate increase of 2% to be dedicated to efficiency measures and local renewable generation.                     -That you plan on voting in the next board election and will support candidates who support these policies. LPEA Board of Directors P.O. Box 2750 Durango, CO 81302

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