In this month's newsletter recap, host Monica Vick covers what members need to know heading into April, including the cooperative's historic transition to energy independence on April 1, the CommunityPowerX regional energy forum on April 23 at the Durango Arts Center, Board of Directors elections updates, town halls in Durango and Pagosa Springs, internship opportunities, a downed power line safety reminder, and a full calendar of upcoming events and deadlines. Stay connected at lpea.coop.

On April 1, 2026, La Plata Electric ends decades of buying nearly all its wholesale power from a single supplier and goes back to it's roots by stepping into a regional energy market for the first time. In this episode, we follow CEO Chris Hansen as he travels through the service territory, meeting members over coffee to discuss what this transition means for rates, reliability, and the co-op's energy future. From joining Southwest Power Pool to exploring battery energy storage, this is the story of a cooperative taking control of its own destiny.

In this episode, LPEA CEO Chris Hansen visits Manna, one of the Roundup Foundation's very first grant recipients, to mark 30 years of giving. Executive Director Marissa Hunt shares how Manna has evolved from a traditional soup kitchen into a comprehensive food security hub, offering daily meals, a food market, case management, and a culinary job training program. It's a firsthand look at what happens when small contributions add up to real community change. Hosted by Monica Vick, from La Plata Electric.