At Large Board Candidates – Edward H. Simmons

How long have you been a member of SDCEA?

4 years.

What Insights Do You Feel You Could Bring to the Board That Would Increase Their Understanding of All Members?

Governor Polis has set a state policy that will see an 80% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fueled power plants by 2030. The six major utilities that serve Colorado are transitioning away from coal as a fuel source. SDCEA must be part of that transition. This transition must be accomplished by considering all available options that serve the goals of SDCEA and the best interest of the co-op member. My 40 years of active and reserve service in the U.S. Navy have taught me to look at a problem from all sides, consider viable options, and then decide which option best achieves the goal. I will bring these skills as well as strategic planning experience to the board during this time of transition.

What Responsibility Do Board Members Have to Communicate With the Membership of the Cooperative?

Knowledge is Power and as public servants, we must communicate the advantages and disadvantages of all possible solutions. This allows the individual members to understand the opportunities and challenges we are facing. The next few years will be vital to the future of our Co-op. The unbiased flow of information must be the cornerstone of our transition.

What Education and Background Experience Do You Have That Specifically Apply to Governing This Electric Cooperative?

My degree path was Mechanical Engineering and I am a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Colorado. During my active service with the U.S. Navy, I attended Nuclear Power School and was then assigned as a reactor operator on 2 submarines. Following my active service and college graduation, I began designing power plants of various sizes and the associated air quality control systems. I have worked with utilities across the United States and have a good understanding of the industry’s business models. I have worked with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to establish new air permit requirements that will result in lower emissions for a diesel engine power plant.

What Are the 3 Most Important Issues to Members That SDCEA Should Focus On?

1: Maintaining our HIGH reliability rating. SDCEA members have enjoyed a greater than 99.9% electrical service availability. Most would agree we need to decommission the remaining fossil-fueled power plants, but we must replace them with SUITABLE and RELIABLE electrical capacity. Some other states have decommissioned coal plants faster than alternatives have been built. This has resulted in rolling brownouts which do not equal a high reliability rating.

2: Providing multiple energy sources. It was heartbreaking to watch the State of Texas experience widespread power outages due to Winter Storm Uri in 2021. The United States learned that these tragic consequences were due to a lack of energy supply options and redundancy. Our Co-op must ensure we have access to multiple, reliable energy sources to maintain our own resiliency.

3: Cost Reduction. SDCEA must be a knowledge resource center for our members. By providing multiple options for higher efficiency water heaters, home heating, EV charging or solar system installation, the member can decide what works best for their home and reduce their electrical costs.

How Do You View the Future of Energy in Central Colorado (i.e., Affordability, Renewable Energy, Electric Vehicles, Battery Storage, Micro-Grids, etc.) and What Is SDCEA’s Primary Responsibility Moving Forward?

Looking forward, SDCEA’s primary responsibility must be to provide reliable energy to co-op members through a combination of renewable and acceptable fuel generation sources. We must take a holistic approach to energy and grid management by integrating member battery storage capacity to reduce peak power demand costs. We must provide educational and incentive programs to help our current and future members make informed decisions when replacing aging equipment or making wholesale energy efficiency improvements to a home or business. We must ensure the present and future financial stability of our Co-op through cost-effective investments.

Please Add Anything Else You Would Like Members to Consider.

We are moving away from fossil fuels. It is extremely important that every SDCEA member recognize that much of our power currently comes from coal-fired power plants. Our Co-op needs open-minded, problem-solving Directors to responsibly manage this transition. The decisions we make over the next few years will influence and set the stage for the future of SDCEA. It would be a privilege to be your open-minded Director.