2012 - La Plata Electric Association, Inc.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORSPHOTO: LINDSAY ABSHAGENFROM THE PRESIDENTA commitment to the members ofLa Plata Electric AssociationBy Jerry McCaw, PresidentThe year went by in a blink,but as I look back I see that yourelectric cooperative board ofdirectors did much hard work,learned a lot and endeavored totruly plot the course for a positive future for LPEA as wemove into an increasingly “technological” society.Since information is important, LPEA continues to workto increase its dissemination of it to you, our members.We maintained the established forms of communication,including Colorado Country Life (and in case you haven’tbeen reading the magazine, know that LPEA received theAward of Excellence for the best overall newsletter in thestate in 2012), but are exploring new communications toolsto keep everyone informed.For example, we enhanced our Free Information Seriesin 2012, and found these meetings to be an effective wayto explain to our members, among other topics, the issuescontributing to rising electricity rates. LPEA continues to befiscally responsible with our members’ money, and I applaudthe LPEA staff for once again tightening the belts and doingmore with less. Still, in 2012, we were in a strong enoughfinancial position to be able to return $2.5 million in capitalcredits to our members.Your board further explored Automated MeteringInfrastructure (AMI), which is not without controversy hereand across the country. For that reason, LPEA has taken acareful look at how to implement this new technology, andyour board took much time to listen to your thoughts.In 2012 we also continued to explore the feasibilityof installing local, distributed renewable generation. Weworked with the DOE on the possibility of building a solarfarm at the old uranium tailings site above Bodo Park, weentertained presentations and discussed options regardingconstruction of local solar farms, and we continued tosupport member installation of solar panels throughpayments for renewable energy credits. At LPEA we arefaced with the challenge of regulations and policies whenit comes to local renewables, but these are things we canwork through with time, and we are endeavoring to do so.As always, your board of directors seeks input from ourmembers. We want to know where you think LPEA should beheading, and what your ideas are to get us there.The year ahead promises to be as challenging as 2012,and we will have some tough decisions to make. We’re alittle bit older and wiser now, but no matter what, we willcontinue to do our very best job for all the members of LaPlata Electric Association. RThe 2012 LPEA Board of Directorsincluded (seated left to right)Herb Brodsky (District 4),Ken Fox (District 1),Jerry McCaw (District 2),Heather Erb (District 4),Davin Montoya (District 2), and(standing left to right)Bob Formwalt (District 1),Lindon Stewart (District 1),Harry Goff (District 3),Jeff Berman (District 3),Britt Bassett (District 3),Tom Compton (District 2) andJoe Wheeling (District 4).4La Plata Electric Association | www.lpea.coop
NEW BOARD MEMBER PROFILESBassett and Erb elected, Brodsky appointedDESIGN: DON SHORTTwo new faces joined the LPEA board of directors in2012, and a familiar one was absent for a bit but returned.Britt Bassett was elected as a new director in District 3.Heather Erb elected as a new director in District 4, defeatingincumbent Herb Brodsky. However, with Pam Patton’sselection to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (seepage 11), the board appointed Brodsky to complete Patton’sterm for District 4.Raised in Bayfield, Bassett has a Master’s Degree inNuclear Engineering from the University of Arizona. Hiscareer includes working at Los Alamos National Laboratoriesin New Mexico, and the NationalCenter for Atmospheric Research(NCAR) and the National Oceanicand Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) labs in Colorado. Heis currently a partner in SolarSeminars, Inc., a Durango-basedbusiness that provides designand construction managementfor large commercial photovoltaic(PV) systems and workforcetraining for laborers andsmall businessman whowant to enter the solarindustry.A 14-year residentof La Plata County,Heather Erb receivedher Bachelor’s fromClark University and isa local Realtor. Amongother involvements, shehas served as presidentof the Durango AreaAssociation of Realtorsand the La Plata/San Juan County Eye & EarProgram. A regional speaker on green building andthe real estate market, Erb was instrumental ingetting the “Green Feature Initiative” into the MLSin southwest Colorado, helping homeowners andthe industry by allowing value to be given to energyefficiency.Learn more about the LPEA Board of Directors atwww.lpea.coop. RPHOTO: INDIANA REEDPHOTO: INDIANA REEDPHOTO: INDIANA REEDLa Plata Electric Association | www.lpea.coop 5
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Page 3 and 4: WATT’S UPTHE 2012 ANNUAL REPORT T
Page 5: F lip the switch and the light come
Page 9 and 10: LA PLATA ELECTRIC ASSOCIATIONCONSOL
Page 11 and 12: isBy Steve Gregg | Manager of Opera
Page 13 and 14: PHOTO: LINDSAY ABSHAGENPatton named
Page 15 and 16: PHOTO: MCCARSON JONESThe La Plata E

2012 - La Plata Electric Association, Inc.

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