A trio of renewable-energy advocates are challenging incumbent directors for election to the board of the state’s largest electric cooperative.
The challengers hope to change Intermountain Rural Electric Association’s high-profile opposition to renewable-energy mandates.
“We think we need to be looking forward instead of backward,” said Jake Meffley, one of the candidates. “We’d prefer IREA to be leading the way on renewable energy and energy efficiency, yet it seems to be leading in the opposite direction.”
Meffley is running against director Sid Hanks of Strasburg, who has served for 20 years on the IREA board.
“I want to provide our customers with the best possible service at the lowest possible cost,” said Hanks, a retired large-animal veterinarian. “I don’t have anything against renewables – they have their place – but they shouldn’t be mandated.”
Another of the challengers, Mike Kempe, said he seeks more member input in board meetings and an easier way for members to contact directors.
IREA, under its current board, has been among the most vocal opponents of two renewable-energy initiatives. Amendment 37, passed by Colorado voters in 2004, set a 10 percent renewable mandate for the state’s largest power companies, and this year’s House Bill 1281 would double the standard to 20 percent for investor-owned utilities and would set a 10 percent standard for co-ops such as IREA.
The bill has passed the legislature and is scheduled to be signed today by Gov. Bill Ritter.
The IREA board also opposes a bill in the legislature requiring co-ops to offer credit to customers who generate electricity from small wind turbines and solar arrays. The concept is known as “net metering.”
The board is concerned that renewable mandates will raise electricity costs for members, said Stan Lewandowski, IREA’s executive director. It opposes net metering because it means a majority of members will be subsidizing payments to the handful who install wind turbines or solar panels.
IREA board elections rarely have attracted challengers, and voter turnout typically is only a small percentage of the co-op’s 134,000 members, said Lewandowski. IREA serves 10 counties surrounding metro Denver.
Ballots for the election have been mailed to IREA members, and most have been returned by mail. Ballots also can be cast April 7 at the IREA annual meeting beginning at 10 a.m. at Strasburg High School.
Staff writer Steve Raabe can be reached at 303-954-1948 or sraabe@denverpost.com.
