A win-win for Tri-State

I read with interest the recent Oct. 29 “Colorado Sun” article “Tri-State won $2.5 billion to close coal plants, get new renewable energy for rural customers. Officials say the funds will deliver 1,280 megawatts of renewable energy, more than 100 megawatts of energy storage and 2,000 new jobs in the West.” I have a high level of concern about warming greenhouse gas emissions and am thrilled to see this game-changing announcement for rural electric cooperatives in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Arizona.

Tri-States’ aggressive plan to build clean, renewable energy generation and retire their coal plants has won praise from environmental groups including the Sierra Club. By winning these federal loans and grants, they now have the key financing to execute the plan and provide solar, wind and solar hybrid plus 100 megawatts of storage to a million customers. Also planned are more than 100 megawatts of standalone energy projects, about half of which will lie in Colorado. Officials say the financing will reduce electricity rates 10% by 2034.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet welcomed the announcement of $1.1 billion for rural cooperatives in Colorado through the new Empowering Rural America program.

“This funding will allow Tri-State’s anticipated power generation to cut 5.8 million tons of climate pollution annually while creating more than 2,000 new jobs” states the article.

This announcement represents many hours of collaborative background work and is a win-win for Tri-State and all its 41 rural cooperative members. Tri-State’s mission is similar to the mission of La Plata Electric: to provide their members a reliable, affordable and responsible supply of electricity in accordance with cooperative principles. LPEA will only remain a member of the nonprofit Tri-State Cooperative till April 2026.  

– Susan Atkinson, Durango