The United Power Board of Directors has appointed Keith Alquist to the board. A Brighton resident for more than 25 years, Alquist was selected from a strong slate of candidates that submitted applications for consideration. Alquist will fill the South District seat vacated by the resignation of Bob Grant in August, and serve the remaining term, just over two years.

“The selection of Keith to fill this board seat is a win for the cooperative members,” stated James Vigesaa, Board President. “Keith brings a rich background in cooperative business and an intimate knowledge of the United Power community to this position.”

Alquist served as Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer for the American Pride Co-op for more than 20 years, retiring after the co-op merged with Agfinity in 2012. In this position he served cooperative members throughout Brighton, Ft. Lupton, Hudson and Mead. He is a long-term member of the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC) which also serves electrical cooperatives. Also an active community member, Alquist is a member of the Brighton Rotary club, which spearheads a Read-to-Me project at South Elementary, a dictionary project for third graders, and the distribution of U.S. Constitution booklets to fifth graders.

“I believe in meeting challenges ‘head-on’ and getting them resolved before they become serious issues,” stated Alquist. “I also believe in long-range planning for the future to identify issues, whether they are supply, generation, environmental, or regulatory issues, and be ready to face these issues before they become insurmountable.”

By November, a third large scale solar field will be energized in United Power’s territory– the Platteville Solar Farm. This 16 megawatt (MWAC) solar project is now the largest cooperative solar farm in Colorado– surpassing our own 13 megawatt Fort Lupton Solar Farm, energized in June 2016.

Silicon Ranch Corporation, a leading developer, owner, and operator of solar energy plants, will own and operate the solar field, while United Power will purchase the energy produced over the next 20 years. The 175-acre farm is located at 19028 County Road 28, just east of Platteville. The farm features technology that allows more than 185,000 solar panels to track the sun from east to west and will produce enough low-cost, renewable power to serve 3,000 United Power members annually.

Combined with the Fort Lupton Solar Farm and the Mavericks Solar Farm, a 6.5 megawatt solar farm in Mead energized in December 2016, more than 6,700 homes and businesses in United Power’s territory will be powered by solar energy once the Platteville Solar Farm is energized.

United Power Board President James Vigesaa officially announced the promotion of John Parker to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the cooperative. Parker has served as United Power’s Chief Financial Officer since 2006, and has been serving as interim CEO since the resignation of Darryl Schriver on June 8, 2017.

“On behalf of the entire United Power board, we are pleased to announce the promotion of John Parker to CEO,” stated Vigesaa. “John’s many years of service to United Power, coupled with his extensive experience in the cooperative industry is a great leadership match for this utility.”

Parker’s cooperative experience extends back to 1983, and includes experience at Matanuska Electric in Alaska, Cap Rock Electric Cooperative in Texas, and Columbia REA in Washington. Parker earned a Bachelor degree in Business with a concentration in Public Accounting Finance from Gonzaga University. Active in the community, he serves as a director on the Community Reach Foundation and is a member of the Brighton Rotary Club.

“I am honored to be selected for this important leadership position, and I am excited to lead our extraordinary team of employees into the future,” stated Parker. “United Power is a well situated cooperative in terms of growth and finances, and I look forward to helping the cooperative move forward with the many innovative projects under development.”