EcoAction Partners and San Miguel Power Association briefed the county commissioners Jan. 7 on 2025 accomplishments and 2026 priorities, focusing on community energy programs, youth outreach, weatherization, workforce development and pilot Regional Green Grants.

EcoAction reported growth in community outreach and education (reaching about 3,800 people in 2025), increased student engagement, and rising use of public-health and environmental programs such as radon testing. The group's pilot Regional Green Grants program drew 20 San Miguel County applications; EcoAction and the volunteer review committee awarded 14 projects (three fully funded, 11 partially funded) using $100,000 in county funds leveraged by Telluride Foundation and philanthropic support to create a $123,000 county pool. EcoAction emphasized a "white-glove" application process to assist applicants and prioritized lower-income applicants in awards.

San Miguel Power Association highlighted reliability projects (a substation tie between Norwood and another substation, and Red Mountain transmission-line rebuild), the adoption of time-of-use rates and measurable member behavior changes, and increased flexibility to develop local renewable projects under an expanded Tri-State allocation (raised from 5% to 20%). SMPA described on-bill repayment and Electrify & Save programs that can finance heat pumps and other electrification measures with repayment through utility bills.

Commissioners asked staff to consider EcoAction's results during upcoming budget deliberations and to return with data on program outcomes and energy-bill impacts once projects are implemented.