Every May, over 500 line workers, teachers and volunteers gather in Grand Junction, Colorado at the Mesa Hotline School for the two-week annual learning event. It’s an energetic and transformative learning experience with the aim of equipping people with the knowledge and skills needed to keep the lights on for the communities they serve.  

Building off last year’s award-winning theme of Co-op Campus, our most recent Communications and Energy Services Conference provided another dynamic two days of learning and connection, centered around a 70s-inspired theme of 'More Power to Ya.'  

Every farm has a story, and that story often has a distinct before-and-after moment of when the farm gained electricity. For Mammoth Farms, that moment happened in 2018.   

To address the housing shortages, the town of Buena Vista and local building manufacturer Fading West recently broke ground on the Midland Apartments; a 60-unit, income-restricted building that will provide much-needed affordable housing in the area.

In Simla, Colo., a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for three new electric buses and chargers, thanks to grants from the 2022 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program. Big Sandy School District was among the lottery winners.

As a cooperative, we know that when people come together, we can achieve greater results than any one of us could have done alone.  Such was the case in the electrification of the Dahlia Station, a key depot along the Amarillo-to-Albuquerque pipeline managed by NuStar Energy – one of the nation’s largest independent liquids terminal and pipeline operators.  

Electric utilities play a critical role in society by providing the essential service of electricity. However, this service also carries significant responsibilities, especially in areas prone to wildfires. Wildfires have a massive impact on electric utilities in several ways including structural damage, power outages, and increased costs. For those living in wildfire areas, it’s a growing concern.

Located about five hours away in Buena Vista, Colorado, served by Tri-State member Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, real estate developer Fading West is finding solutions to meet the needs of affordable housing for essential workers in the community.

Last week, cooperative colleagues joined Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association at the annual 2023 Communications and Energy Services Conference in Westminster, Colorado. Tri-State has hosted the event for over two decades, bringing together 42 members and key partners from across 200,000 square miles of the West. The theme of “Co-op Campus” this year provides opportunities for members to learn from each other.