Vote for clean, affordable energy
To the editor,
If you care about air quality, the high levels of mercury contamination found in local lakes, or ensuring that all community members have access to reliable, affordable energy for years to come, the single most important action you can take this year is to vote in the upcoming La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) Board elections. Ballots will be mailed to all cooperative members April 19, with a return deadline of May 10.
To the editor,
If you care about air quality, the high levels of mercury contamination found in local lakes, or ensuring that all community members have access to reliable, affordable energy for years to come, the single most important action you can take this year is to vote in the upcoming La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) Board elections. Ballots will be mailed to all cooperative members April 19, with a return deadline of May 10.
As idyllic as our Four Corners setting may feel, too much of the energy generation infrastructure that powers our daily activities is powered itself by one of the dirtiest fuels around: coal. Not only does generation of power by coal foul our air and water, economically it is a bad long-term investment. King no longer, between 2011-12, coal consumption for electricity generation dropped 11.6 percent (source: Energy Information Administration) as it was supplanted by newer, cleaner fuel sources.
Our energy future will not look like our energy past, and why should it given ongoing technological advances? That said – too many Board members at LPEA find safety and comfort in doing things the way they’ve always been done, blind to the changing world around them and, worse, the human health impacts their stale strategies force on our communities. It is time for change.
Investments in energy efficiency and responsible planning for the integration of new, cleaner and local energy sources at the grid-level is complicated, hard work, which is why we need to start planning now. Three candidates – Mark Garcia (District 1), Michael Rendon (District 3), and Jack Turner (District 4) – are ready to work with other LPEA Board members and the co-op’s strong professional staff to plan for and implement the changes needed to ensure that clean, affordable energy is what powers the lifestyle we all cherish here in Southwest Colorado. Please watch for your mail-in ballot after April 19, and give these great candidates your vote.
– The Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado Board of Directors
Having a field day with FLC
To the editor,
I am not an FLC alum, but here is what I am. I am a Colorado taxpayer and a big fan of Chris and Shelly Aaland. I am upset and confused that this could happen to such incredible people that I have known for almost 30 years. I am astonished that an employer would carry out terminations in such an abrupt and callous manner given the incredible personal tragedies and stresses (not once but twice) suffered by two dedicated employees in such a short period of time.
To the editor,
I am not an FLC alum, but here is what I am. I am a Colorado taxpayer and a big fan of Chris and Shelly Aaland. I am upset and confused that this could happen to such incredible people that I have known for almost 30 years. I am astonished that an employer would carry out terminations in such an abrupt and callous manner given the incredible personal tragedies and stresses (not once but twice) suffered by two dedicated employees in such a short period of time.
I am also an employment attorney who represents employers (that’s right, employers; not employees). In my profession, I’ve learned there are always two sides to the story and the media rarely reports the full story (sorry, but that’s very true) – usually, it’s the former employees and their attorneys who talk to the press; not the employer and for good reason. So I understand FLC’s silence, but not its silence in lack of action to correct this massive mistake and salvage its reputation. The longer FLC waits, the harder it’s going to be to do both without great expense and pain.
I’m sure I only know one side of the story, however, that side sounds awfully outrageous. I am astonished and amazed that Chris and Shelly both returned to work so quickly after such a personal loss as losing their precious child. I am astonished and amazed that Chris did not take additional medical leave after having open heart surgery. I am astonished and amazed that Chris took a huge pay cut in order to save his job and help out the institution he loved and called home. I am sure their dedication to FLC in part helped them to return so quickly knowing they had a place they called home for years to return to, be supported by, lean on, and move forward with despite the agonizing pain they were and continue to suffer.
What did they get in return? Fired by an organization they dedicated themselves to for more than 22 years?! Fired three months after returning to work in less than a week after having open heart surgery?! Fired because you haven’t been the same since you had to bury your 5½ month old precious baby boy?! Fired back to back?! Really?!
Even a mediocre plaintiff’s employment lawyer could have a field day with these snippets. I’m sure a good one will be slamming some home runs. I echo Bill Deter’s sentiment to FLC: Good luck with that!
– Heidi Duston, via e-mail
Vote for clean energy leaders
To the editor,
I recently received my April issue of LPEA’s Colorado Country Life and felt like I was taken back in time – to the early 1990s.
To the editor,
I recently received my April issue of LPEA’s Colorado Country Life and felt like I was taken back in time – to the early 1990s.
Kent Singer, of the Colorado Rural Electric Association (CREA), paints a slanted story of what local renewable energy generation has to offer Colorado and our community. Singer’s rally cry is in response to the Colorado Legislature’s Senate Bill 252, which aims to increase Colorado’s Rural Renewable Energy Standard to 25 percent by 2020 with wholesale electricity providers like Tri-State who sell to rural electric cooperatives like LPEA.
Currently, in Colorado, no more than 10 percent of energy is generated by clean energy sources. At this point, we (LPEA) buy bundled energy from Tri-State that is largely sourced from coal and some renewable projects typically owned by large Eastern energy corporations who gain the financial benefits (about $65 million annually) rather than our local community.
Communities elsewhere, however, are aiming to produce at least 30 percent renewable energy and are benefitting from jobs and development through the local multiplier effect. Local energy development is akin to our “Local First” program, where for every $100 spent at a locally owned, independent business, $73 ($1.36 per dollar) returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. Returns from local renewable energy development have an average multiplier effect of at least $3 per dollar spent.
You don’t have to be an environmentalist or community advocate to see that local renewable energy generation is a no-brainer for economic viability. Smart energy development is about building stronger community through local, clean energy that ultimately benefits our region.
LPEA and SW Colorado can be leaders in smart, clean and local energy development rather than laggers. That’s why voting for LPEA candidates who understand the value of local, renewable energy is so important!
Vote for Jack Turner of District 4; Michael Rendon of District 3; and Mark Garcia of District 1 who understand the importance of local energy development. LPEA ballots go out April 19 and need to be returned by May 10.
– Elsa Jagniecki, Durango
FLC will never, ever be the same
To the editor,
I am a 2011 graduate of Fort Lewis College. I try to get everyone I know to go to “The Fort” for his or her education. FLC was the third college I attended, and the college I found most homey, the college that spoke words to me and kept me in Durango for four years. I graduated with an exercise science degree, sport administration and was also on the cheerleading team.
To the editor,
I am a 2011 graduate of Fort Lewis College. I try to get everyone I know to go to “The Fort” for his or her education. FLC was the third college I attended, and the college I found most homey, the college that spoke words to me and kept me in Durango for four years. I graduated with an exercise science degree, sport administration and was also on the cheerleading team.
When I first met Chris it was because of my interest to get involved with the school and meet new people. My choice was cheerleading. Chris had the most patience I have ever seen anyone have with the coach at the time. After my first year of cheer, I started going to the Athletic Department for the stuff we needed and volunteering to go ask Chris for what we needed because of his warm and welcome attitude.
Outside of school, I worked at Lady Falconburg’s where Chris, Shelly and Otto were some of the best customers I ever had. They knew the whole staff by name, never brought a sad face into the place and always left us with a better attitude.
The day I saw that not only Shelly was let go but that Chris was as well was the day I stopped telling my friends and family what an absolutely wonderful school Fort Lewis is. I love Fort Lewis College and I love the town of Durango but that campus will never, ever be the same without the presence of the Aaland family.
My high school had a saying “Once an Eagle, always an Eagle.” I took that saying to college with me “Once a Skyhawk always a Skyhawk,” but now that Chris and Shelly are gone not one future student or faculty member will ever have the pleasure of knowing two (three including Otto) true skyhawks.
– Julia Kirk, via email
The Three Little (powder) Pigs
To the editor,
On a sunny Saturday on a peak called Snowdon, three little powder pigs decided to go riding. They found to their delight that when they approached the daunting dame called the ‘Naked Lady’, that someone had put in a fine stairway straight to the top! How nice for the powder pigs, they didn’t have to do any work other than haul their snowboards and skis up the 1,000 ft. couloir. So up they went, past the thinning snow, past the protruding rocks, right below the tippy top where they found the makers of the stairs. The stair makers were about to come down their hard-labored stairs, yelling to the little pow pigs; “be careful, we might loose some rocks in the warming sun”. To which the little powder pigs replied; “hey dude, can you wait until we ride down?” “OK, said the stair makers, but please don’t destroy our stairs!” But when the stair makers got down into the couloir, the little powder pigs had slid and slipped their way down, and out, and gone into the afternoon. And the stair makers were left with no stairs, no thanks, and only a lingering thought…. why don’t the three little (powder) pigs think of something or someone else beside their own rad ride from the top of someone else’s effort?
To the editor,
On a sunny Saturday on a peak called Snowdon, three little powder pigs decided to go riding. They found to their delight that when they approached the daunting dame called the ‘Naked Lady’, that someone had put in a fine stairway straight to the top! How nice for the powder pigs, they didn’t have to do any work other than haul their snowboards and skis up the 1,000 ft. couloir. So up they went, past the thinning snow, past the protruding rocks, right below the tippy top where they found the makers of the stairs. The stair makers were about to come down their hard-labored stairs, yelling to the little pow pigs; “be careful, we might loose some rocks in the warming sun”. To which the little powder pigs replied; “hey dude, can you wait until we ride down?” “OK, said the stair makers, but please don’t destroy our stairs!” But when the stair makers got down into the couloir, the little powder pigs had slid and slipped their way down, and out, and gone into the afternoon. And the stair makers were left with no stairs, no thanks, and only a lingering thought…. why don’t the three little (powder) pigs think of something or someone else beside their own rad ride from the top of someone else’s effort?
– Tim Thomas, Durango
Don’t judge FLC till facts come out
To the editor,
In the recent firing of the Aalands from Fort Lewis College, the college has taken a lot of heat. Everyone asks how the school could have arbitrarily fired such nice people who have served the college community so well for so long. It puzzles me, too. As a Fort Lewis employee, I know it’s fairly unusual for the school not only to fire someone in this manner but also to be so quiet about the reasons. By now, I would expect to have heard some scuttlebutt, but there’s been nothing but speculation.
To the editor,
In the recent firing of the Aalands from Fort Lewis College, the college has taken a lot of heat. Everyone asks how the school could have arbitrarily fired such nice people who have served the college community so well for so long. It puzzles me, too. As a Fort Lewis employee, I know it’s fairly unusual for the school not only to fire someone in this manner but also to be so quiet about the reasons. By now, I would expect to have heard some scuttlebutt, but there’s been nothing but speculation.
All this makes me think that the firing was not as arbitrary as many people believe. Considering the degree of esteem for them, it seems quite possible to me that the silence surrounding the Aalands’ firing may have had more to do with protecting them from some embarrassment than it had to do with the school protecting itself. The school certainly has nothing to gain by acting in such an apparently arbitrary manner.
In any event, whether this was a case of good people using bad judgment or of the school acting imperiously, I would encourage people to reserve their judgment of both the Aalands and the school until the facts come out, as they surely will.
– Bob Kimmick, Durango