colorado E-Filings System coluradu SKI COUNTRY USA Director Doug Dean Chairman Jeffery Ackermann Colorado Public Utilities Commission 1560 Broadway, Suite 250 Denver, CO 80202 Dear Director Dean and Chairman Ackermann, As the state trade association representing 23 ski areas across Colorado, including 16 ski areas that receive their electricity from rural electric cooperatives, Colorado Ski Country USA supports the efforts of Delta- Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) to withdraw from membership in Tri?State Generation and Transmission Association, lnc. (Tri?State) in order to develop more local renewable resources and stabilize its retail rates. Colorado?s ski industry, including Colorado Ski Country 23?member ski areas, supports efforts by utilities across the state to produce more energy from cost-effective renewable resources. As a weather dependent industry that relies on consistent snowfall, Colorado?s ski areas support efforts to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. DMEA seeks to withdraw from membership in Tri-State because DMEA wishes to make its own energy procurement decisions and purchase the more affordable and cleaner sources of energy that are available to it. Colorado Ski Country USA encourages the Commission to find that it has jurisdiction to hear complaint. Rural electric cooperatives should be allowed sufficient flexibility to respond to the demands of their member?customers for cleaner energy resources. Moreover, DMEA has a duty to its member- customers to pursue more affordable sources of energy when they are available. As businesses and large consumers of energy, keeping energy sources affordable is critical for Colorado?s ski areas to operate cost- effectively in the future. Finally, because many ofour members operate in rural economies served by rural electric cooperatives, Colorado Ski Country supports example of encouraging the development of local renewable energy resources. Colorado Ski Country USA strongly encourages the Commission to allow DMEA to pursue its goals of procuring local, cost-effective, renewable energy resources by finding that the Commission has jurisdiction to hear complaint and by granting the relief that DMEA seeks. Sincerely, . ,1 Melanie Mills President CEO, Colorado Ski Country USA Colorado Ski Country USA 3773 Cherry Creek North Dr. Suite 955 Denver, CO 80209