Fremont County commissioners unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday opposing the Colorado Public Utilities Commission’s clean heat mandate, warning the December 3 ruling will devastate rural residents’ energy bills while eliminating their right to choose how they heat their homes.
The board also received a clean audit showing the county’s strongest financial position in years, repealed a 20-year-old fire district impact fee ordinance, and approved $4.2 million in bills at its final meeting of 2025.
PUC Clean Heat Opposition
The resolution opposes PUC rules requiring natural gas utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 41% by 2035, with full decarbonization targeted by 2050. For Fremont County residents, that means eventually replacing gas furnaces, water heaters, and stoves with electric alternatives – at their own expense.
“If it’s so wonderful and it’s so affordable, why do we have to force people to do this?” Chair Kevin Grantham asked. “This is going to cost us a fortune… all the while taking away their right to choose what is best for them.”
The resolution cites utility filings estimating home retrofits exceeding $20,000 before incentives. Black Hills Energy estimates $397 million annually in compliance costs; Xcel projects $1 billion over five years. Colorado households paid four times more for electricity than natural gas per energy unit in 2024.
Commissioner Dwayne McFall noted natural gas utilities have already cut emissions 20% since 2005 by switching from coal. “Without multiple options for energy, we will not survive on just renewable energies alone,” he said. “The electrical grid won’t handle it anyway.”
Grantham emphasized that even the Colorado Energy Office and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment opposed the 41% target, recommending a “realistically achievable” 30% instead. Only environmental advocacy groups pushed for 41%.
Canon City Mayor Pro Tem John Hamrick told commissioners the PUC decision was “fantasy land so detached from reality it makes Disneyland look like a documentary.” He warned the mandate would shutter industries like bronze foundries that rely on gas.
The resolution affirms residents’ rights to choose natural gas, propane, wood, coal, or off-grid renewables and calls on state authorities to adopt flexible policies respecting local control. Grantham urged residents to contact the PUC at 303-894-2000.
Clean Audit Shows Financial Recovery
Auditor Kyle Logan of Logan & Associates delivered an unmodified opinion – the best possible result – on the county’s 2024 financial statements.
The county’s net position reached $61.6 million, up $8.8 million (17%) from 2023. Total assets hit $98.6 million with $43.8 million in cash and investments. The county holds approximately six months of operating expenses in unrestricted reserves – enough to sustain operations if state tax remittances were delayed.
Commissioner Debbie Bell noted this marks full recovery from a cyber attack several years ago that wiped out financial data. “To look back and see where we’ve come from… and to understand today we were getting a clean statement is pretty amazing.”
The only audit finding was late filing of the single audit package, a carryover issue from 2023.
Fire District Impact Fee Repealed
Commissioners repealed Ordinance 2004-1, eliminating the county-imposed impact fee for Canon City Area Fire Protection District. County Attorney Eric Bellas explained the district now has statutory authority to collect its own fees, making the county’s role redundant.
The fire district adopted a new fee schedule in November. McFall noted those fees still add to construction costs. “It does increase the cost of building a home again, which is just everybody’s adding on to that and it’s frustrating as heck.”
Other Business
The board approved $4,216,952.72 in bills and ratified the chairman’s signature on a sheriff’s office medical staffing contract amendment with TK Health, increasing monthly reimbursement to $78,357.87 effective January 1, 2026.
Budget & Finance Officer Shawn Sutton reported retail sales tax collections tracking slightly ahead of 2024, with year-to-date receipts of $7.9 million – nearly $1 million ahead of budget.
County Administrator Tony Carochi announced Bridge 209A on County Road 19 (Siloam Road) has reopened after the transportation department completed repairs in two days.
Commissioners appointed Dean Brady to the Weed Advisory Board and reappointed Janna Dixon and Shandra Begalle to the John C. Fremont Library District Board, Sandy Johnston to the Penrose Community Library Board, and John Hamrick and Rudl Mergelman to the Planning Commission.
Commissioners wished residents a safe holiday season and warned of extreme fire danger due to dry conditions and high winds.
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