Highlights of Tri-State 70th Annual Meeting
Under the theme of Driving Change, chairman Tim Rabon, who also serves as a trustee of Otero County Electric Cooperative in Cloudcroft, N.M., highlighted to the more than 450 member attendees and guests in attendance at the 70th annual meeting that 2021 will prove to be one of most pivotal years in the history of Tri-State.
Treasurer Stuart Morgan, who also serves as director of the Wheat Belt Public Power District in Sidney, Neb., noted that the Winter Storm Uri in February 2021 did not result in higher wholesale rates for Tri-State’s members, while other electric utilities experienced significant rate impacts from the storm.
Advancing the goals set in January 2020 with the announcement of its Responsible Energy Plan, Tri-State added 304 megawatts of wind resources in 2021 with the completion of the Niyol Wind Energy Center near Fleming, and the Crossing Trails Wind Farm near Seibert.
Tri-State will add another 735 megawatts of solar power in Colorado and New Mexico in 2023 and 2024.
Executive Committee officers re-elected
Following the annual meeting, the executive committee of Tri-State’s Board of Directors was seated, including six officers and three at-large positions.
Rabon, who has served on Tri-State’s board since 2014, was re-elected as chairman.
Don Keairns, representing San Isabel Electric Association (Pueblo West, Colo.), was re-elected vice chairman.
Julie Kilty, who has represented Wyrulec Company (Torrington, Wyo.) on the Tri-State board since 2012, was re-elected secretary.
Morgan, who has represented Wheat Belt Public Power District on the Tri-State board since 2007, was re-elected treasurer, a position he first assumed in 2012.
Matt Brown, who has represented High Plains Power (Riverton, Wyo.) on the Tri-State board since 2010, was re-elected assistant secretary.
Scott Wolfe, representing San Luis Valley REC (Monte Vista) was re-elected assistant secretary; Wolfe joined Tri-State’s board of directors in 2008.
The Executive Committee’s three at-large positions were seated with incumbents Wayne Connell representing Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative (Mountainair, N.M.), Shawn Turner, representing The Midwest Electric Cooperative (Grant, Neb.), and Thaine Michie representing Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association (Fort Collins).
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