Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:

As a long time resident of Nucla and previous business owner in Naturita, I have given thousand of hours in community service back to our community. I have served on our local school board and served on the area’s water system board (Mustang Water). Currently, I volunteer on Montrose County Sheriff’s Posse Search and Rescue and this year hold office as Board Director: In years past, I served as Secretary/Treasurer and as President. I assist our local game warden with his Hunter Safety Class, usually scheduled one week in March. Also, I am employed as Municipal Court Judge in Nucla (one day a month). I am also employed part-time as a hunting guide with Weimer Outfitters. Another volunteer position I perform is Snow Grooming for our local snow mobile club. I am the currant Commander of our local VFW Post 9058, the most important task we perform is Military Burials for our Veterans.

Why did you choose to run for the SMPA Board of Directors?
When the previous board representative retired, I decided I could bring my experience in the energy industry to the board and assist SMPA in making strategic decisions regarding how to best transition our power system to a cleaner, more resilient one. I’m a licensed engineer, and have worked on clean energy issues for over 30 years, consulting to utilities, regulators, and investors on policies, programs, and technology investments. My vision is we will have a regional power system that is supplied primarily by local, renewable sources, with tools to help optimize electricity consumption patterns. If we plan wisely, costs will go down for all members, reliability will improve, and emissions will be minimized.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:
I lived and worked in Telluride in the late 1970s, managing the local food coop and working as a carpenter. I was fortunate to return to the area a few years ago. I currently serve on local boards for EcoAction Partners and the Telluride Mountain Club. I also continue to serve on various energy industry boards and committees, including: Energy Evaluation Asia Pacific (EEAP) and the International Energy Program/Policy Evaluation Conference (IEPPEC)

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:
A real estate agent by trade, I also have a history of community leadership with the Telluride R-1 School Board and San Miguel County, among others.  Through these endeavors, I have exercised leadership and strategic planning skills in community-wide initiatives.  I am committed to helping shape the sustainable future of this region and believe SMPA will play a critical role in that mission.

In your opinion, what is the best way for SMPA to fulfill its mission of providing safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible electric service? 
 

Transition to the partial generation suppliers for a share of SMPA’s member requirements that offer lower wholesale rates with a larger percentage of renewable resources, plus reliable service, and flexible contracts that allows increasing integration of renewable sources at the local level. Consider innovative net meter policies that are consistent to state requirements and that promote policies that encourage the integration of technologies to mitigate some of the temporal issues of renewable generation. Continue with the rollout of TOU rate structure that matches billing to SMPA costs. In my opinion, TOU rates are important to SMPA’s financial health, and I applaud SMPA’s education campaign and their Member Services Transition Plan to address member concerns during the transition next year.

Community Involvement or Volunteer Work:

I am very active in the local community and have served and am currently serving on several non-profit Boards of Directors / Officer positions. Among these are: the Ridgway-Ouray Community Council (ROCC), and the local Dark Sky Committee. I have consulted with several communities within SMPA’s service area providing suggestions to their lighting ordnances to be Dark Sky friendly and have led the collaboration between ROCC, Top of the Pines, and the Ouray County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in obtaining a Dark Sky Park certification for TOP (2021). Plus, ROCC and I collaborated with the Town of Ridgway in obtaining the Town’s Dark Sky certification in 2020.