Several years ago, while working for the federal government, I had the opportunity to spend time aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. The captain explained that aircraft carriers are focused on being a “forward projection of force.” I enjoyed my time with the crew of 4,000 and the leadership command team as they went about the complex duties of operating the finest example of U.S. power in the middle of the ocean. 

Part of my experience included a tailhook landing in a COD (carrier onboard delivery) plane that appears way too big to land on anything but a runway, as well as a catapult takeoff. When preparing for takeoff, there is a tremendous amount of noise, confusion, and turmoil. Once hooked onto the catapult, the noise cuts through your body and your vision blurs. The anticipation of the launch is an adrenaline rush. Then a strange thing happens; the noise disappears as the plane clears the runway, dips off the deck, and heads into the air. The flight at that point is quiet and smooth, heading toward its destination. There may be occasional turbulence, but flight plans are executed with great precision.

A year ago, there was a lot of noise as your cooperative awaited takeoff on the catapult to independence. Like the catapult takeoff, silence quickly replaced the noise. The co-op’s flight plan — also known as Our Cooperative Roadmap — is being executed with great precision. United Power is the forward projection of force, taking action to meet the needs today and in the future.  

There are headwinds and tailwinds on the energy horizon. The West may find itself short of capacity, the critical back-up generation resource to ensure grid reliability. It, and specifically United Power, will also find it has plenty of energy thanks to more and more people adding their own generating resources, coupled with new solar and wind facilities. The headwinds and tailwinds mean there will be times of excess and inexpensive power and times when things are tight.

Electricity has never been more important to our homes, businesses, and communities. United Power, like many other utilities, is finding the need to balance each new opportunity with the realities of power supply. We have created the LIT process to work with potential large commercial and industrial members, which focuses on three key items: location, investment, and timing. The good news for United Power is our history of ensuring growth pays its own way. The better news is that companies want to be in your cooperative’s territory.

Part of United Power’s flight plan involves the strategy to hyper-localize generation and storage resources. This is one way we will maintain reliability, as well as add to the local tax base. We have added a new gas-fired power plant and 115 MW of battery storage located at substations across our system. The battery array is the largest in Colorado and most likely the West, allowing us to buy power when prices are low and use it when prices are high. As a matter of fact, this month marks the first time United Power actively managed the deployment of power from two of our battery systems to meet a contingency reserve need on the system. The batteries improve and support our grid and leverage the storage capacity for financial benefit.

Our flight plan also includes becoming a distribution system operator (DSO), which allows the management of systems in concert with each other and not just individual pieces. As on the aircraft carrier, everything will be coordinated to manage costs and keep the lights on. This means members can offer their self-generation or storage to United Power as an aggregator that gets sold back to the market. It also means the possibility of smoothing out demand through the system to lower overall costs and the better use of resources in a capacity constrained world.

For three days on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, I witnessed the tight coordination of people, safely navigating in open ocean while defending our nation. At United Power, I see the tight coordination of our tremendous staff, supported by the oversight of your Board who lead the cooperative. We have nailed the landing, cleared the takeoff, and are flying ahead. Full steam ahead. 

Alliance Energy Partners with United Power 

Brighton, CO – United Power, Inc. (United Power), an electric cooperative serving Colorado’s northern front range, announces the signing of a power purchase agreement for the output of the Brush II natural gas generation project. Located in Brush, Colorado, the 70-megawatt facility is owned and operated by Alliance Energy Group, LLC (Alliance Energy). 

“United Power is continuing to add resources that make sense for our cooperative members and Brush II is a critical step as we expand our power portfolio,” said Mark A. Gabriel, President and CEO of United Power. “Natural gas generation is a vital link to balancing the many renewable resources currently in the cooperative’s power mix. The integration of renewable generation is complemented by natural gas resources and is vital to keeping our system delivering power no matter how high the demand. This facility will be able to quickly ramp up and dispatch power exactly when we need it most. Our vision to diversify and hyper-localize power production will pay dividends to cooperative members in an increasingly volatile energy market.”

Alliance Energy will be responsible for the facility’s operation and maintenance, with United Power purchasing all the power it produces. 

“Brush II is a reliable generation resource that is an integral part of the Colorado supply stack and Alliance Energy will help ensure the quality of the resources for United Power’s cooperative members,” said Sam Nappi, Founder and Chairman, Alliance Energy. “Alliance is proud to partner with United Power. This long-term partnership provides surety for the current staff employed at the facility, keeping jobs in Brush for years to come.” 

The Brush II unit has been in operation since 1994, and has been owned by Alliance Energy since May of 2022, when it was purchased from AltaGas. United Power will begin accepting generation from the site on Jan. 1, 2026. 

Learn more about United Power and its ongoing energy transition plans here.

About United Power

United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to homes, farms, and businesses throughout Colorado’s northern front range. The cooperative is one of the fastest-growing electric co-ops in the nation, serving nearly 115,000 meters. Its 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

About Alliance Energy Group

Our mission at Alliance Energy is to safely provide a clean, reliable supply of electricity to meet the critical demands of our society, while simultaneously maintaining a high level of environmental stewardship. Alliance Energy specializes in all aspects of the energy industry; from electric power generation and marketing, to mergers and acquisitions, to the exploration, production and transportation of natural gas, to research and development activities into other emerging markets. 

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Three Incumbents Re-elected in 2025 Director Election

Brighton, CO – United Power members gathered for the cooperative’s 2025 Annual Meeting on April 16 at Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton. More than 500 members and guests attended this year’s meeting, which included a video presentation highlighting the co-op’s 2024 accomplishments, an annual financial report, and a special presentation from President and CEO Mark A. Gabriel. Results of the Director Election were announced at the conclusion of the meeting. 

Voting in the Director Election was conducted via mail-in and electronic balloting. More than 4,700 member ballots were cast in the election. Running unopposed, North District incumbent Ursula J. Morgan and Central District incumbent Keith Alquist retained their seats with 4,242 votes and 4,227 votes, respectively. Incumbent Beth Martin received 2,757 votes in the South District to retain her seat; Ryan Keefer received 1,915 votes.

Board Chair Ursula J. Morgan and Gabriel shared a video presentation highlighting the cooperative’s successful transition to energy independence after the cooperative exited its wholesale power contract in May 2024. The withdrawal launched a new era in United Power’s history where it has the autonomy to manage and balance its own portfolio of energy resources and power supply agreements. The decision to leave was carefully considered over many years as the cooperative’s Board studied the industry and how it was developing. 

“Many of these changes were driven by you, our member-owners,” said Morgan. “Not only did our membership increase, power demands also increased, and you tasked this cooperative with finding new ways to produce and provide power.”

It was the shift in how members use and generate power that required United Power to rethink its distribution model, said Gabriel. Adoption of residential solar among the cooperative’s members has outpaced most of the country. Those who produce more than they consume sell their excess back to the cooperative so that the distribution of energy generation is no longer a one-way street. Additional flexibility was also necessary to help commercial and industrial members, such as those in the oil and gas industry, achieve their own goals; these members are working to electrify their processes and meet sustainability requirements.

Wholesale power costs were another factor in the decision to exit the contract. These costs already constituted more than two-thirds of the cooperative’s expenses, and United Power had little ability to control the uncertainty surrounding future increases.

“I am proud to say that from day one, we were delivering power generated by cleaner sources at more predictable prices,” said Gabriel of the successful exit. “And our record of reliability and safety remain at the high standards we expect.” 

United Power’s energy independence allows the cooperative to pursue a strategy of hyper-localization. Prioritizing power generation opportunities located within its footprint benefits both the cooperative and local communities, and limits reliance on generation facilities hundreds of miles away. Last year, the co-op added new power supply agreements for solar resources in Adams and Weld Counties, a natural gas peaking plant near Keenesburg, and battery storage facilities co-located at substations throughout the service territory.

“We are continuing to add more power agreements and are looking for new opportunities to include local resources,” said Gabriel. “This ongoing transition is the future of electric generation and delivery, and United Power is proud to be at the forefront of this change.”

Alquist, United Power’s Board Treasurer, presented the cooperative’s financials and reported another strong year. The financial performance throughout the year was ahead of not only the prior year, but also ahead of budget. Lower wholesale power costs helped offset costs associated with the co-op’s buyout last May.

Gabriel concluded the business meeting with a presentation about United Power’s opportunities as it transitions to a distribution system operator. This model of energy delivery will help the cooperative continue to meet the growing energy needs of its members while also thriving as an innovative distribution co-op. Gabriel’s presentation highlighted the coming of energy markets to Colorado, how those markets benefit United Power, and what it means for members who are energy producers as well as consumers. 

“This was a big year for United Power,” Gabriel said. “We continue to be committed to creating an energy future that is sustainable, stabilizes costs for our members, and evolves to meet the growing needs of the communities you call home.”

Videos and information presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting, including the cooperative’s 2024 Annual Report, are available here. 

About United Power

United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, delivering electricity to homes, farms, and businesses throughout Colorado’s northern front range. The cooperative is one of the fastest-growing electric co-ops in the nation, serving more than 114,000 meters. Its 900-square mile service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek and Golden Gate Canyon, along the I-25 corridor and Carbon Valley region, to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson, and Keenesburg. For more information about United Power, visit www.unitedpower.com or follow the cooperative on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

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