FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions regarding my role at LPEA. Let's get started!
Why did you join the LPEA Board in the first place?
Simply put, it was a high value way to serve my community. The energy business is hard. There's state regulators, federal regulators, long term energy contracts that get financed with projected cashflows based on complex spreadsheets.
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I had been working in energy for a while and I thought my particular skill set and experience would give me a chance to contribute outsized value to the community I love. LPEA has done a great job through very difficult periods including COVID, the retirement of uneconomic coal plants, and the rise of compelling incentives and rapidly advancing technologies.
Do you really donate all your LPEA earnings?
Yes, every year I donate my entire LPEA salary to the La Plata Electric Round Up Foundation. In 2024 I donated $18,770.
What did you accomplish as President of the Board?
I was elected Board President twice, after a period of considerable board conflict. I am most proud of re-establishing decorum and professionalism to the board meetings. Today we don't talk over each other, we don't shout, we don't grandstand. We listen to each other, debate, and vote. That's a good thing!
Isn't being CEO of King Energy a conflict of interest?
No, it’s not. Conflict of interest happens when someone could personally benefit from a decision they make in a role they hold. That’s not the case here.
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King Energy doesn’t do any business with LPEA. We don’t operate any solar projects in Colorado at all—our projects are entirely in California and on the East Coast. Neither I nor the company gain anything from my position on the LPEA board. As mentioned above, I don't even retain the salary for my time.
That said, like anyone, I have personal beliefs. I believe sustainable energy sources can be a great and affordable part of our energy mix. That’s a bias, not a conflict of interest. Every board member brings their own views, and we all try to make the best decisions for the people we serve—including me.
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Investopedia has a pretty good explanation of "conflict of interest" if you want to learn more.
Why did you vote to leave Tri-State?
The reason is simple: Tri-State is an expensive way to get our power. LPEA’s staff completed a detailed financial analysis and it clearly showed we can keep our energy costs lower—both now and in the future—by taking control of our own energy supply.
This makes sense when you think about it. We have plenty of land, strong finances, well-maintained infrastructure and a skilled local team. We have great geothermal resources and 300 days of sunshine. That puts us in a good position to either build our own power sources or shop around for better deals.
If Tri-State could truly offer the lowest price, then they should compete for our business like anyone else. If they can’t, then we shouldn’t be forced to stay.
Wasn't your decision really about forcing us to go solar?
No, it wasn’t. I voted—along with eight other board members—to support the staff’s recommendation to leave Tri-State. The staff completed a detailed financial analysis and concluded that exiting would help keep energy costs low. That’s why I voted yes.
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A mix of energy sources will still be part of our energy solution going forward. However, we now have the chance to add other sources—like geothermal, solar for daytime, and batteries to help in the evenings. That gives us more options and more local control. At the end of the day, I voted to keep costs low for our community. That’s the bottom line.
Why should I vote for you?
I will continue to make sure LPEA is well run. If you think LPEA has done a good job keeping the lights on, keeping your bills low, and managing fire risk, then you should vote to keep the team you have and enjoy the continued stability in board leadership.
Alternatively, if you had a fundamentally negative experience with LPEA then consider voting for new leadership. But context matters. Compare our well run coop to the mismanagement that caused the Austin Blackouts, or the repeated horrific wildfires caused by the California utilities, or the utility corruption in Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, and South Carolina, or the runaway price hikes in Boston.
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Organizations can always do better, and LPEA is no exception. But, I am proud of the work of the LPEA staff and believe they have done a great job.
