Every holiday season, many of us reflect on how to best support our neighbors and strengthen our communities. While this reflection often grows during the holidays, at Holy Cross Energy, our commitment to community does not fade with the calendar. As a cooperative, “Concern for Community” is one of our core guiding principles and something we practice throughout the year.

Holy Cross Energy was founded by local citizens who wanted reliable electricity in places that private companies would not serve. They formed an electric cooperative because they believed that when people work together, they can improve quality of life for everyone. That belief still guides us today and our success is directly connected to the well-being of the people who live here.

You can see that philosophy in action across our programs. Here are some of the key ways we invest in our communities year-round:

• The Holy Cross Energy Round-Up Foundation, where members voluntarily round up their monthly bills to the nearest dollar. Those extra cents are pooled, matched by HCE, and distributed to members facing hardship and local nonprofits that address food insecurity, youth needs, senior services, and other community priorities.
• Community Giving that helps fund the organizations, events, and activities that make our mountain valleys thrive—with a strategic focus on energy, environmental, and youth-related causes.
• Investment in our next generation of local leaders through scholarships, the Washington D.C. Youth Tour, and Cooperative Youth Leadership camp. These programs help students explore the cooperative model, become engaged citizens, and develop leadership and work skills that will serve our communities in the future.
• Educational presentations in classrooms and community spaces that focus on safety, energy use, and sustainability. When we can help people understand how energy works and how to use it responsibly, everyone benefits.
• Community Energy Systems collaborations with schools, nonprofits, and local governments to help them reduce energy costs and reinvest savings into their missions. When a community center or public facility becomes more efficient, those savings ripple out to the people they serve.
• Active participation in community events including local fairs, school functions, environmental days, and nonprofit fundraisers. Our employees show up not only as energy professionals but as neighbors who volunteer, listen, and engage with the people we serve.
• Paid employee volunteer time that supports local organizations such as the Eagle Valley Community Foundation’s Community Market, Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers, Habitat for Humanity, Roundup River Ranch, and others. 

The heart of all this work is simple. We belong to the communities we serve. Everything we do is meant to build a stronger and more resilient community for today and for the generations who will inherit it.  

At Holy Cross Energy, community is not a season. It is the reason we are honored to serve our members and communities every day of the year!