Chad for YVEA | Chad Garrett for Yampa Valley Electric Board

PROTECTING OUR RURAL FUTURE

Hello to all my YVEA neighbors!

I’m Chad Garrett, lifelong energy professional and Routt County dad.

I know how important YVEA is to our community and our ability to make a living here. As someone who's worked on the ground across America's fast-changing energy markets for two decades, I'm excited to give back with service on our YVEA board.

I'd be honored to earn your vote as we carry YVEA's storied legacy into the future with a strong work ethic, common sense, and commitment to protecting our families and rural future.

- Chad Garrett

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PRACTICAL
EXPERIENCE
for yvea

Energy has been a lifelong passion of mine and I've spent much of my career working with rural electric cooperatives and utilities across North America.

I graduated Colorado School of Mines with a Masters in Energy Economics and have gotten to help power providers make their operations and businesses more efficient and effective for two decades.

I've gained practical on-the-ground experience leading projects on energy-efficiency, electrification for consumer savings, and improving customer service. I've also helped build competitive broadband programs and run a nonprofit.

Today, I also serve with the Transportation Sector Working Group through the CAP, where I help shape large budgets and improve our regional transportation infrastructure.

I live in Steamboat Springs with my wife and three children, who are active in sports, 4-H and volunteer work with neurodivergent youth and youth sports. In my free time, I enjoy playing rec league hockey, coaching skiing, and spending time on our mountains and rivers.

PROTECTING OUR
RURAL FUTURE
AT YVEA

How can we safeguard our pocketbooks and values with smart action at YVEA?

Protecting Our Pocketbooks

It's no secret that times are tough for working families here. The most fundamental responsibility of our co-op board is to keep costs as low as technology and economics allow.

That takes proactive action to regularly evaluate our options, make sense of changing technologies and markets, and ensure our budget is working efficiently. That takes good two-way communication with members. As someone who's helped co-ops and utilities across the nation make sense of their options, I feel ready for this work.

I'm tremendously proud of the whole YVEA team and our community for winning a recent USDA grant. We competed with dozens of co-ops across the nation and our proposal was successful. Investing these $50M funds smartly will be a key mission for the next board.

Modernizing
Our Service

Utilities are often slow to adapt to changing markets, and I want to ensure that our YVEA remains a modern and forward-looking organization.

Our investments impact everyone in the region and can make a difference for the economy of Northwest Colorado.

I want to build on YVEA's strong legacy by supporting user-friendly programs for members to better control their energy and save, access more choices for rates, and feel that they have responsive customer service when they need it.

Growth & Electrification

As our region grows, it's crucial to have
infrastructure equipped to meet our needs. I support increasing electrification and
local energy where practical, and investing in the necessary infrastructure to support
this growth.

On the demand side, electrification technologies are evolving quickly and offer us a chance to both help members save with more efficient heating, cooling, and cooking appliances, and grow revenue for the co-op that can be reinvested in priorities like grid resiliency, extreme weather and wildfire protection, and cybersecurity.

By fostering a proactive culture and partnering with our business community,
we can ensure that new developments and existing businesses thrive while strengthening YVEA's bottom line.