Public key to power plant’s future
To the editor,
If you live and work near the Four Corners Power Plant or the Navajo Mine in northwestern New Mexico, it will come as no surprise that they produce more than coal-powered electricity for the Southwestern United States. They generate a complex and controversial suite of issues, including protection of the environment, the economic advancement of tribal nations, and the vital need for domestic sources of power. It is understandable that citizens of New Mexico, members of the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe, and others across the Southwest hold a wide range of views on these projects.
That’s why the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), in coordination with the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and other cooperating federal agencies, are encouraging the public to provide comments on a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
Under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, OSMRE is charged with protecting people and the environment from the adverse effects of coal mining while providing for the nation’s energy needs. The National Environmental Policy Act requires that an EIS be prepared on all “major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.”
On March 28, OSMRE, as lead for this multi-agency process, made available a draft EIS analyzing a series of actions related to the Four Corners Power Plant and the Navajo Mine Energy Project. The draft EIS reviews four proposals: extension of the lease for the Four Corners Power Plant; right of way renewals for continued operation and maintenance of four transmission lines connected to the plant; renewal of the coal-mining permit for the existing Navajo Mine; and proposed development of the Pinabete Permit Area within the leased acreage for the Navajo Mine. 4
OSMRE relies on the public to provide comment
and any pertinent evidence that has not been considered. Public participation is critical to producing a final EIS that will allow OSMRE to make informed decisions. We encourage you to get involved to help us meet this challenge.
There are several ways to comment: write to the OSMRE Western Region Office, 1999 Broadway, Suite 3320, Denver, CO, 80202-3050; or email FCPPNavajoEnergyEIS@osmre.gov. OSMRE is accepting written comments through May 27.
– Chris Holmes, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Berman only serves own interests
To the editor,
I normally don’t get involved in political views publicly, but I feel the upcoming LPE A election is very important for the health of the co-op and the member-owners. As a concerned member-owner, I strongly support Bill Waters for the LPEA Board. He is a hard-working individual, and when he does something he does it right. His livelihood depends on his ability to work with people.
I kept hearing about Jeff Berman’s blog. So I decided to read up on it. He is an angry person. Why does he continue to trash everyone at LPEA. Normally when a person runs for election it’s based on his/her achievements. His blog shows he has an agenda and he is only interested in his self interests.
But what is really troubling to me as a member of LPEA, is how can someone elected to serve on the LPEA Board continually trash the company and others involved in operating it. If he does not believe in the company he should find something else to do. I believe, when a majority decision is made by the Board, he has an obligation to support that decision; which is not the case for the most part.
Please join me in supporting Bill Waters and Joe Wheeling for the LPEA Board. The employees and member-owners are depending on us to do the right thing.
– Dan Huntington, Hesperus
Buck status quo, vote for Dance
To the editor,
The LPEA election for Board of Directors is upon us. Please vote! Your Board needs to hear your voice as they plan for the future.
Energy systems are changing around the country. Our 20th century energy production and distribution models (centralized power plants using cheap fossil fuels distributed via a large grid) are giving way to a different kind of model for the 21st century. The new model is decentralized energy production and localized grids, utilizing a number of local energy producers and renewable energy with fossil fuel backup.
This new model requires rural energy coops like LPEA to reinvent themselves to best serve their member customers in the future and to keep costs down. LPEA customers send $72 million out of our area every year to pay for our electricity. Think how our local economy would benefit from even 20 percent of that circulating here!
We need a future-thinking Board of Directors, not members who would like to keep the status quo. Please vote for Jeff Berman in District 3 (Durango) and Alison Dance in District 4 (north county). Alison is a dynamic business owner who is passionate about local control, both in food production and energy. We need Board members like her – hard-working, dedicated to local control, creative and smart.
We need Board members who will lead LPEA into the 21st century, rather than be stuck in the “getting more expensive every year” old model. Vote for Alison Dance!
– Tom and Diane Higgins, Durango
Berman costs the LPEA board
To the editor,
No more member-owned cooperative La Plata Electric Association money for Jeff Berman! In 2011, Jeff filed personal bankruptcy and in 2012 his house was foreclosed. In 2007, Jeff promised farmers in Dolores, the governor and banks that his “green” sunflower crops would provide jobs and fuel, four years later the plant was shuttered.
The bait and switch from biodiesel to sunflower oil didn’t work, the idea for more green innovations including solar or wind also failed. The locals in Dolores sent Berman packing because Berman was focusing too much on renewable energy and not keeping enough money on hand for the business of running a cooperative sunflower plant. Sound familiar?
Jeff, the activist, turned failed businessman, back to activist made over $21,000 last year from our cooperative. Based on minutes of board meetings, Jeff has cost the members, you, $9,000 since the first of the year and Durango needs to send him packing, too. Vote for William A. Waters, a businessman, father, 5th-generation resident who is open-minded and cares deeply about the dysfunction Jeff has caused in the La Plata Electric boardroom.
– Christi Zeller, Durango
The Koch’s solar-tax bait & switch
To the Editor,
As we gather our thoughts about solar energy and the makeup of our LPEA Board, it might be helpful to look at what the big players are doing.
The Koch brothers and their partners in Big Carbon have finally found a carbon tax they really like. No, not on the carbon they produce in prodigious amounts. No, not on the wealth that carbon brings them. But on the carbon you might save with your solar panels.
Through the American Legislative Exchange Council (the industry-funded posh weekend of golf, good food and schmoozing, while corporate lawyers write legislation for the overwhelmingly Republican legislators to take back to their states) and clever ads placed through nonprofits, they are pushing for a surtax on the income generated by local solar panels. The obvious idea is make solar panels more expensive, and therefore less popular.
Another innovation they are pushing is to promote a roll-back of the renewable energy goals set by a number of states. Their concern is the bottom line, not the millions of acres of beetle-killed forest or Colorado agriculture’s plight with steadily increasing warmth and drought.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of Koch sniffers. Do you remember Congressman Scott Tipton’s rush to sign the Koch brothers (front group Americans for Prosperity) pledge to “oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue?” It is bitter irony that now the Koch brothers are promoting a new tax on you and me.
– Christopher Isensee, Durango
Only you can prepare for wildfire
To the editor,
On behalf of FireWise of Southwest Colorado and La Plata County, we would like to thank the following individuals and entities for helping make our first Community Wildfire Preparedness Day on May 3 a resounding success. First, to State Farm Insurance who partnered with the National Fire Protection Association and provided funds to 20 communities across the U.S. to host events. FireWise is grateful to have had their mitigation demonstration project selected.
Additional assistance came from local agent Ken Willyard, whose office helped with refreshments for the volunteers, and Jay Hwang and Tom Wolf who volunteered their time.
We are also grateful to City Arborist Ron Stoner who helped with the site selection and project layout and the City of Durango for allowing us to work on its land. Our mitigation demonstration occurred on a small piece of open space just south of Rio Vista Park.
The day would not have been possible without the assistance of Fire Smart owner Jon Westrup and his awesome crew of Alex and Trevor Lowe. These guys did all the cutting and chipping, and gave the group great information regarding “best practices” for fire mitigation.
There were numerous folks who helped with general site mitigation, gathering leaves and dead brush, bagging slash and carrying slash to be chipped. Thanks also to the San Juan Mountains Association for providing gloves and tools for our volunteers and to Bread and North City Market for providing refreshments.
Feedback from hikers and joggers on the new look for the park was very positive. We hope the rest of the community likes it as well. We also hope that the community will take the lead in being their own best defense against wildfire and carry out similar mitigation projects.
As we move forward into a potentially significant and damaging fire season, residents are encouraged to take a few hours and prepare their own property by cleaning up debris around the house, thinning brush, trimming or “limbing” up pine trees 8-10 feet, and working with their neighbors on projects that benefit their neighborhood.
For additional information on fire mitigation best practices, consultation or a list of mitigation contractors, contact La Plata County FireWise Coordinator Melody Walters at 903-2139 or visit www.southwestcoloradofires.org or www.csfs.colostate.edu.
– Sincerely, Pam Wilson, FireWise of Southwest Colorado
Vote with head, not heart
Dear ed,
Every once in a while, it makes sense to take a pragmatic stand instead of an ideological position. In electing Alison Dance to the LPEA board, LPEA will lose the influence that Joe Wheeling brings to the table as a member of the Tri-State executive committee. LPEA is no longer a “small business” with assets in excess of $11 million with sales of almost $30 million in 2013. I’d rather have the former CEO of Red Roof Inns looking after my interests with that kind of money on the table.
I’ve never been a fan of endorsement letters in the local papers. However, I think that this race has a lot more at stake when you factor in the possible loss of LPEA’s influence with Tri-State if Joe Wheeling is defeated by single-issue voters only interested in renewables. I’m sure Ms. Dance is a wonderful person, but I voted for Joe Wheeling.
– Dennis Pierce, Durango