Mountain Parks Electric, Inc. (MPEI) is proud to serve the rural and mountainous communities of Colorado’s Grand and Jackson Counties with reliable, efficient, and affordable electricity. With an average of just 12 meters per mile, delivering energy to these remote areas requires unique solutions and deep local partnerships. Through the USDA’s Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program, MPEI is advancing its long-standing commitment to member-owners by investing in a more resilient power supply through a new Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Guzman Energy. While this PPA represents a transformational shift in energy sourcing, the Community Benefits Plan (CBP) ensures that these savings
and innovations translate directly into improved quality of life for the people we serve.

MPEI’s CBP was developed through extensive engagement with nonprofit leaders, human service agencies, and key community stakeholders across our service territory. The result is a locally driven plan that aligns with USDA’s four community benefit priorities: increasing energy affordability, investing in the rural workforce, improving rural communities, and supporting farming and ranching families. Rather than creating new programs from scratch, MPEI is building on a foundation of trusted community partners to expand or enhance services where they are most needed – food assistance for homebound seniors; workforce housing and training programs; Ag-focused scholarships for area high school students and energy sector apprenticeships; and energy savings programs for income-qualified households. This plan reflects MPEI’s belief that an electric cooperative must also contribute to the social and economic resiliency of the communities it powers.

See the MPE New ERA Award Press Release.