As we approach the 85th anniversary of La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) in August, it's a momentous occasion to reflect on our cooperative's storied past and envision a future built on the principles of local control, energy independence, local decision-making, and reliable electric service. Born from the determination of local farmers and ranchers in 1939, LPEA's heritage is a testament to the power of community and innovation in the face of adversity.
Our story began when rural Southwest Colorado was left in the dark, literally and figuratively. While cities like Durango basked in the glow of electric light since the early 1890s, our rural areas were overlooked, deemed too remote, a too costly for electrification to reach. This did not deter our founding members, who, allowed by the Rural Electrification Act's (REA) provision, united to form LPEA. Our founding members transformed a vision into a reality that forever altered the landscape of our community.
The decision to establish LPEA was not just about bringing light to rural homes; it was a bold statement of self-reliance, local control and local community effort. By choosing a cooperative model, LPEA embedded the values of integrity, accountability, innovation, and commitment to community into its very foundation.
The broader history of electric cooperatives in America parallels LPEA's journey. Originating in the 1930s, these cooperatives were born out of a necessity to bring electricity to rural America, where private utilities were usually located in large urban areas, and cities refused to provide rural areas with electricity. With the aid of the REA, these cooperatives finally brought light and modernity to remote areas, transforming rural economies and livelihoods. This movement by rural areas was a testament to American ingenuity and community spirit, ultimately showcasing what the power of collective action can do in the face of adversity. While sometimes small, electricity cooperatives now power 56% of our nation's (landmass).
Today, LPEA is not just keeping the lights on; we're doing it with an eye on the future. One of our strategic goals, cutting our carbon footprint in half by 2030 while keeping members' cost of electricity lower than 70% of our Colorado Cooperative peers, is all about blending our historical strengths with modern innovation. We're sticking to our roots of serving our members reliably and affordably, while also pushing forward with new technologies and sustainable practices to continually improve our services to our members.
Our commitment to being a trusted community partner isn't just talk. From our plans to source clean, local, low-cost power to our efforts to maintain strong financial health, every step we take is to help improve our members' lives and to continue to make the counties where we provide electricity a great place to live and work. And just like our LPEA founders, we're all about making bold decisions for the good of our community.
Since the beginning, energy independence has been a guiding theme for LPEA. Our current journey reflects a continuous effort to make our electric grid more resilient and our community more self-sufficient with more local control and decision-making over our energy sources. This autonomy is not just about being self-reliant in energy production; it's about having the freedom to make decisions that directly benefit our members, free from external pressures. As we look to the future, the challenge of sustainable and responsible energy use is at the forefront. LPEA is ready to meet this challenge head-on, guided by our enduring commitment to serve our members' best interests.
As CEO of LPEA, I see our history not just as a record of what we've done but as a blueprint for where we're going and why we are going there. It's about honoring the past while embracing the future – and that's exactly what we plan to keep doing.
Jessica Matlock, CEO, La Plata Electric Association, Inc.