We are living in an exciting time when, for the first time in the Nation’s history, we have the opportunity to make major advancements in clean and renewable energy — and work to address the climate catastrophe — thanks to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) last year. The IRA makes available $9.7 billion to rural electric cooperatives, the elected boards that manage the energy needs and future of over 1.5 million Coloradans, to help cover the costs of new infrastructure around clean energy and create a more sustainable and cost-effective local energy production model. 

But this money is not just given out — rural electric co-ops (such as Grand Valley Power, Delta Montrose Electric Association, San Miguel Power Association, and Holy Cross Energy) must apply for the funding they require through a Letter of Intent for the New ERA program by September 15, and we urge you to encourage your local rural electric co-op to apply! 

Applying is easy, and if our rural electric co-ops do not apply, they would be leaving potentially millions of dollars that could benefit our communities on the table. 

New ERA applications are due by September 15, and PACE applications, which offer $1 billion in forgivable loans for battery storage, are due shortly thereafter on September 29. With less than a month to apply, it is critical we communicate to our rural electric co-ops that, as member-owners, we support accessing this historic funding opportunity, and request they submit an application and strive to generate more locally produced clean energy that will keep our costs down. 

You can find contact information for each Rural Electric Cooperative’s board members in the links above, and further information (including how to apply for funding!) can be found for both New ERA and PACE.