Get to know who you are voting for in this year’s Sangre de Cristo Electric Association Board election. SDCEA’s Candidate Forums offer the opportunity to meet potential Board members and learn about their platforms. Of the seven member Board of Directors there are two seats up for election this year: the At-Large seat that is currently vacant and the Rural Chaffee/Lake County seat that is currently held by Charlie Abel. There are two candidates for the At-Large seat, Sandy Long and Ed Simmons, and Director Abel is unopposed for his seat. Read more about the election at SDCEA’s website using the link below.

https://www.myelectric.coop/about/sdcea-election-center/

This Tech Talk, by Ken Regelson, is for anyone that is interested in what we can do to keep our electricity costs down. What can Sangre de Cristo Electric Association (SDCEA) do? What can we, the customers of SDCEA, do? Topics will include: SDCEA background and neighbors; reliability with increasing levels of renewables; what makes up our electricity costs; cost-effective ways to lower our bills that maximize reducing everyone’s costs; and actions that SDCEA is taking and can take.  We will also leave plenty of time for your questions.

This virtual Tech Talk is free, but registration is required. Please email edu@arkvalleyenergyfuture.org to receive a Zoom link to the meeting by 3:00 P.M. on April 23rd.

Come celebrate Earth Day by learning about the history of the US Public Lands from former National Park Service Superintendent and Texas State Park Director, Walt Dabney! This event will also serve as GARNA’s annual member celebration/meeting, with light refreshments provided.

Walt Dabney graduated from Texas A&M in 1969 with a degree in Recreation and Park Management. He began his career with the National Park Service the summer of 1969 as a student trainee (ranger-Naturalist) at Old Faithful District of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.  He was selected to become the National Park Service Chief Ranger stationed in Washington D.C. and held that position for 5 1/2 years. Dabney began his permanent career with Texas Parks and Wildlife as the Director of State Parks in 1999 after having spent 30 years with the National Park Service. He helped bring significant organizational changes to the agency. After 43 years of park work, he retired in 2010. Dabney now lives in Buena Vista.

To read more and register for this event, follow the link below to GARNA’s calendar of events.

https://garna.org/calendar/the-history-of-us-public-lands-with-walt-dabney/

ENERGY! 6 - 8 pm - Tres Litros Beer Company - 118 North E Street, Salida

Hear from Ark Valley Energy Future on current energy issues, meet the candidate they are endorsing for the Sangre de Cristo Electric Association Board of Directors election this spring and pick up information on the programs associated with the Inflation Reduction Act.

Short presentation at 6:00 p.m. followed by networking & idea sharing on environmental issues.

FREE to attend!  (but please buy a beer and/or food to support our host location)

Join Sangre de Cristo Electric Association (SDCEA) staff and board members to learn about your local electric co-op while enjoying delicious coffee and breakfast treats. The SDCEA Board of Directors is planning to hold a strategic planning workshop on February 8-9 to chart a course for our co-op’s future. This Coffee with the Co-op event on January 18th is an opportunity for you, a member-owner, to provide input by sharing your thoughts, concerns, appreciation, feedback, etc. with your elected Board representative. This event will be held in the Community Room at the Buena Vista headquarters building on Hwy. 24 North.

AVEF’s next Tech Talk will be on December 5 from 5:30 - 6:30 pm via Zoom. The topic will be Heat Pumps and Energy Recovery Ventilation Systems, featuring guest speakers Bill Lucas-Brown and Matt Wright. Bill Lucas-Brown consults on electrification best practices at GB3 Energy and installs heat pumps in Golden, Colorado. Matt Wright is the Chief Building Scientist at Deeper Green Consulting in Frisco, Colorado. 

Here is a link for the Tech Talk: 

https://citizensclimate.zoom.us/j/7354323167?pwd=cm9vR2FRV1Q5NnkvTDZnREUxdjcxdz09 (if you need them, the Meeting ID is 735 432 3167, and the Passcode is 7632020)

If you want to join by phone, you can dial 346-248-7799 and enter Meeting ID 735 432 3167.   

Please join us!

Join us for our November Tech Talk as we envision what the world will be like after we move toward complete electrification.  Our guest speaker will be Julia Moravcsik, President of Denver Electric Vehicle Council and member of the Boulder Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL) Chapter.  Topics of discussion will include:

• New technologies and how they are better and cheaper

• How can we speed up the rate of adoption

• How will these technologies change our lives for the better

This presentation will be held in conjunction with the Chaffee County CCL Chapter.  The meeting will be by Zoom videoconference. To join, cut & paste the URL address below (if you need them, the Meeting ID is 735 432 3167, and the Passcode is 7632020):

Join Zoom Meeting -

https://citizensclimate.zoom.us/j/7354323167?pwd=cm9vR2FRV1Q5NnkvTDZnREUxdjcxdz09

To join by phone instead, you can dial 346-248-7799 and enter Meeting ID 735 432 3167.  

Questions? Please email Sandy Long: sandy@arkvalleyenergyfuture.org

Please join us for this free and electrifying in-person event at The Congregational United Church of Christ, located at 217 Crossman Ave. in Buena Vista (behind the Post Office).

Presented by Paul “Bear” Rauschke, Volunteer Coach with Drive Electric Colorado (DE-CO). Bear will clearly answer your questions as you consider the purchase of an electric vehicle. He will present and lead discussions on the following topics: 1) Types of EVs; 2) Charging; 3) Incentives for new and used vehicles and home chargers; and 4) the benefits and challenges of EV ownership.

Bear and his wife have owned an EV as their primary vehicle since 2013. He has logged almost 200,000 miles in his own EV and has test driven assorted EVs, including a hybrid electric snowcat. He has been a volunteer coach with DE-CO since 2021. For additional information, please go to: https://driveelectriccolorado.org

Note: This will be an in-person event only. We hope you will join us!

Join SDCEA for their first ‘Coffee with the Co-op’ event. To be held at SDCEA’s Community Room in Buena Vista. Coffee, donuts, muffins and bagels served. Come learn, ask questions, provide input, and expression your appreciation for the ability to provide feedback to your electric cooperative on important issues.

Are you thinking about buying an EV (electric vehicle) or a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle)? Did you know you could get up to $15,000 in tax credits? Up to $7,500 in Federal tax credits are available for new EV/PHEV’s but there are income and vehicle requirements.  For used cars, there is up to $4,000 available but with different requirements.  Colorado will give you $5,000 for your new EV/PHEV.   Starting next year you can get another $2,500 if the vehicle’s MSRP is under $35,000. 

Sandy Long will review the complex restrictions and applicable vehicles for each of these. We will also look at some examples.  Learn how you could get a Chevy Equinox for $13,200!

Incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act for heat pumps, solar systems and battery storage will also be discussed.

Registration is free; to register and obtain a link for this Tech Talk, please send your name and email to edu@arkvalleyenergyfuture.org by Wednesday, Aug. 9.

Ark Valley Energy Future will be bringing an electric vehicle presence to this very popular car show sponsored by the Buena Vista Optimist Club to benefit kids in our community. We plan to have a number of different electric vehicles at this show, as well as a booth with volunteers providing information on EV charging and tax incentive information under the Inflation Reduction Act. East Main Street in Buena Vista will be your one-stop-shop for all things electric vehicle. Don’t miss this great family event! For more information: https://www.mountainmaniacarshow.com/

Come meet & greet SDCEA Board candidates Jeff Fiedler and Mark Boyle while enjoying food, drink, entertainment and electrifying fellowship at Terri Olson and Christof Stork’s riverside pavilion at 28909 Ramsour Road, just across the bridge from South Main, Friday, May 12th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Grab a stack of campaign flyers and cards to distribute to your friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. for helping Jeff and Mark get elected to our electric co-op Board.

Tech Talk #2: ENERGY AUDITS - the first step to big savings on your energy bills!

Have you been frustrated with high energy bills this year? Has your money been leaking out the windows, cracks and unknown corners of your home or business? One of the key first steps that any building owner can do to reduce their energy bills is to have a professional Energy Audit performed. After all, the best clean energy is the energy you never use!

Ark Valley Energy Future is sponsoring its second educational “Tech Talk” and has invited Rob Rosengren, Chaffee County Energy Auditor, and Kasey Provorse from Energy Smart Colorado to help explain the Energy Audit process.

The presentation will take place via Google Meet at 12:00 Noon, Wednesday, May 3rd. To register, email tmolson8550@gmail.com with “AVEF Talk” in the subject line. Registration is required but the on-line event is free.

Energy Smart Colorado will share its home and small business energy assessment program in Chaffee County. Energy Assessments provide information to increase the efficiency of your home or building, allowing individuals to take steps to create a more comfortable and affordable home or building as well as unlock potential rebates and tax credits.

Rob and Kasey will outline the energy audit process, including speaking with the customer about their concerns and lifestyle in their home, elements of the exterior inspection of the home, as well as safety testing to test the air quality of homes and the equipment used to test for gas leaks. They will also explain the blower door test and share infrared camera images with examples of common leakage points of homes in Chaffee County.

Information on costs, rebates and credits will also be provided. There will be time available for questions and discussion. The presentation will be recorded and be available on the Ark Valley Energy Future website, https://arkvalleyenergyfuture.org. Additional information about Energy Audits is available at https://energysmartcolorado.org/.

The Central Colorado Climate Coalition is excited to announce the Arkansas Valley’s Annual Earth Day Celebration, to be held in Salida on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The event will feature The Parade for The Species at 10:30 a.m. at Alpine Park; it will proceed from the park at 11:00 a.m. and travel down ‘F’ Street to Riverside Park. In the afternoon there will be a Speaker Series from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the Salida Scout Hut, with presentations by local organizations working on sustainability issues in Central Colordao. Meet the Sangre de Cristo Electric Assoc. Board candidates being endorsed by AVEF in the election this year. Tickets will be by donation at the door and are limited to 75 people, so come early! For more information, please go to: climatecolorado.com

Drop by the Deerhammer in Buena Vista, buy yourself a drink or enjoy a snack and meet the AVEF-endorsed candidates, Jeff Fiedler and Mark Boyle, for the upcoming SDCEA Board of Directors election. Grab some campaign materials to give to your neighbors, co-workers, friends, family, hairdresser, dog walker, etc.

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association will host a ‘Listening Session’ to provide an opportunity for co-op members to ask questions and share feedback regarding a proposed rate restructure. This session will be held in the flex room at the Buena Vista High School located at 559 S. Railroad Street. The meeting is free and open to members. Light refreshments and finger foods will be served.

Join us for AVEF’s first in a series of Tech Talks. To be held virtually via Zoom on Wednesday, April 5th at Noon. Plan on grabbing lunch and joining us on-line.

One of the key steps that building owners can do to generate clean, sustainable, increasingly cost-effective electricity is to install solar PV- Photovoltaics – that convert sunlight energy to electricity.

Ark Valley Energy Future is sponsoring its first “Tech-Talk” and has invited Ken Regelson, Tim Klco and Rich Shoemaker to help demystify home and business solar options.

The presentation will take place via Zoom at 12:00 P.M., Wednesday April 5th. To register, email tmolson8550@gmail.com with “AVEF Talk” in the subject line. Registration is required but the on-line event is free.

Topics will include: basic solar installs, net metering, behind the meter battery storage, integrating Electric Vehicle (EV) charging with PV and the grid (Vehicle to Grid:V2G), installation costs and payback, and finally personal experience installing solar and battery storage in the Upper Arkansas Valley. There will be plenty of time for your questions.

Ken Regelson is the founder of EnergyShouldBe.org. He speaks on energy in clear and engaging ways to audiences of all experience levels, from energy nerds to regular folks. He has a master’s degree in electrical engineering along with 23 years of experience in modeling, analysis, and practice of a high renewables grid. For five years, Ken was a policy analyst at the state capitol and Public Utilities Commission representing Colorado’s solar installers.

Tim Klco is president of Peak Solar Designs serving Chaffee and surrounding counties since 2004.  Tim is certified by the National Board of Certified Energy Practitioners® and a member of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association.  Peak Solar Designs specializes in grid interactive and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and has installed nearly 6 megawatts of residential PV systems in Chaffee County alone.

Rich Shoemaker is one of the volunteer directors for the nonprofit Ark Valley Energy Future, which was formed in February 2022, and currently serves as its Chair.  He is a CSU alumnus and retired civil engineer who never excelled in electrical engineering.  He and his wife began their solar journey in early 2021.  He will share his recent experiences with home solar, battery storage and EV charging.

The presentation will be recorded and available at AVEF’s website after the event.

Please make plans to attend this important meeting of the Board of Directors, either in-person or virtually. Email info@myelectric.coop no later than Noon on March 28th to request attendance in-person or ask for a Webex registration link. The Board will vote on the proposed rate changes and alternate rate schedules. Make your voice heard by attending the meeting or email the Board members in advance. See ‘Contacts’ for information on how to email the Board members.

The newly formed Clean Energy Transition working group will meet to discuss research that people have been doing on other electric cooperatives, Inflation Reduction Act opportunities, Tri-State’s ERP and ways we can help SDCEA pivot towards more local clean energy generation. If you are interested in learning more about this group or sharing your ideas, please contact Deb Hannigan at deb@arkvalleyenergyfuture.org.

A kickoff meeting of the Education Working Group will be held on Tuesday, March 7 at 5:00 p.m. via Zoom. Please join Sandy Long to share your ideas on how best to inform SDCEA members about clean/renewable energy technologies and opportunities. Here’s the Zoom meeting link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82488499248?pwd=d3R2c2FTSDJwRDlnNllkdFYxRVRVUT09

The continued adoption of electric vehicles will clearly help states meet their climate goals. But the additional demand on the electrical system risks further complicating utilities' careful balancing act to integrate a growing supply of variable renewables. Utilities are increasingly experimenting with managed charging as a way to shift EV charging to times of lower demand and smooth out their daily demand curves. This session will hear from Brian Lips from the NC Clean Energy Technology Center who will discuss recent EV policy trends across the country. In addition, a utility and solution provider perspective will be presented, along with their recent innovations in managed charging. FREE WEBINAR - REGISTER HERE

The report describes installed prices and system design trends for distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems in the United States. The latest edition is based on data from roughly 2.5 million systems installed nationally through year-end 2021, with preliminary data for the first half of 2022. New to the report this year is an expanded coverage of paired PV-plus-storage systems.

REGISTER FOR WEBINAR HERE

In conjunction with the Climate Forward meeting in New York, Former Vice President and Senator Al Gore and US Climate Envoy, former Secretary of State and former Senator John Kerry will discuss the climate challenge. Register Here

In association with the Green Homes Tour, there will be a presentation on clean energy incentives and options by Tom Plant and Jeff Lyng on Saturday night, September 17 at A Church in Salida. Tom Plant is a Senior Policy Advisor for the Center for the New Energy Economy, and is also the Chair of AVEF. Jeff Lyng is the Environmental Policy Director at Xcel. Tickets available at GARNA