The recent wildfires in California are a heartbreaking reminder of the risks that face many communities in the arid western United States. While a combination of drought, high winds, and low humidity all conspired to create the conditions for this tragic event, it’s not clear yet who or what was responsible for igniting the fires. […]
Industry leaders discuss the electric industry The Colorado Rural Electric Association concluded its 15th Annual CREA Energy Innovations Summit. This year’s conference brought together more than 275 industry experts and leaders who discussed the latest developments in today’s dynamic energy landscape. During the opening session, United States Sen. John Hickenlooper emphasized the importance of a […]
DENVER, Colorado — The Colorado Rural Electric Association welcomes Taylor Ward as its new Director of Government Relations. Ward joins CREA with a decade of experience in legislative and government affairs. Working primarily in the public sector, he has proven success in strategic advocacy and lobbying, legislative analysis, policy development, community engagement, relationship building, and […]
For more than three decades, the electric cooperatives of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming have conducted a fun weeklong experience known as Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp. Every July, selected high school students travel to Clark, Colorado (north of Steamboat Springs), after being chosen by their local cooperatives as participants. This year’s Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp […]
In June and July, seven Colorado electric co-op line crews traveled to parts of Arizona to help electrify homes on Navajo Nation. More than 13,000 families living on Navajo Nation do not have basic access to electricity at home. An initiative between the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and the American Public Power Association, Light Up […]
Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Representative Yadira Caraveo (CO-8), and Colorado Agriculture Commissioner Kate Greenberg held a press conference June 17 in Fort Collins to discuss efforts to create additional income opportunities for producers and entrepreneurs by building more, new, and better markets; providing more options for consumers to buy healthy, locally produced […]
Congratulations to CREA member co-op Poudre Valley REA — the Fort Collins-based cooperative received $9 million from USDA to develop solar energy battery storage. The award was announced at the cooperative’s headquarters on Monday, June 17. “There is an attitude here, at this rural electric association, an attitude of trying to be one step ahead, […]
Poudre Valley REA broadband power infrastructure will be seeing an increase in its resiliency soon. Larimer County has received a $995,429 grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs to help develop community-owned middle-mile fiber to the towns of Wellington and Masonville. Additionally, the county’s general fund will be matching the grant. While Larimer County […]
Holy Cross Energy announced the completion of its new solar array and battery storage project at Colorado Mountain College’s Spring Valley campus in Glenwood Springs. This project is a collaboration between Holy Cross Energy, Colorado Mountain College, Ameresco, Sunsense and Friends. The utility-scale solar and storage project is a step towards Holy Cross Energy’s goal […]
By Kent Singer, CREA Executive Director Since the inception of the Colorado electric co-op program in the 1930s, the traditional path for delivering electricity to co-op members has largely remained the same: Power is generated at a central station power plant, transmitted across high voltage transmission lines, and finally distributed over a local system to […]