HomeMy WebLinkAboutFred Standefer 2_9-FEB-26HOW DO YOU POWER
A
NEW CITY?
February 8, 2026
Board of County Commissioners/Community Development
Garfield County, CO
108 8th Street, Suite 101
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Commissioners - Tom Jankovsky, Mike Samson, Perry Will
Community Development - Glenn Hartmann, John Leybourne
Gentlemen,
As you know, in late December the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued a
ruling (Proceeding No. 25R-0309G) establishing enhanced greenhouse gas (GHG) targets
for the state’s major natural gas utilities, including Xcel Energy and Black Hills Energy. This
decision builds on Colorado’s Clean Heat Standard law which already mandated 4% GHG
reductions by 2025 and 22% by 2030 from a 2015 baseline, by adding a NEW 41%
REDUCTION target by 2035.
The PUC also signaled an expectation for further decarbonization - EFFECTIVELY A
100% REDUCTION IN NATURAL GAS-RELATED EMISSIONS- BY 2050. The decision
effectively accelerates the phaseout of natural gas in Colorado’s energy system.
YOU understand how devastating this is for Garfield County. Most do not. The negative
economic impact will be immense. Oil and gas related taxes are very important to the
county. The future development potential of the Mancos shale and other prospective
formations is being destroyed. Published government studies show new gas development
should add many years of supply to existing reserves. People will eventually be forced to
replace gas fired heating systems with electric. There will be no gas stoves or fireplaces in
the worst case scenario. The electric utilities become true monopolies.
And, Xcel has already requested an increase in electric rates starting in August of 9.93%.
The application of HARVEST ROARING FORK PUD (PUDA -12-24-9048) as currently
proposed would be an incredibly dense development that effectively contemplates a new
city along Highway 82 on 289 acres in Garfield County. If approval is granted to such an
enormous development, the new city will have a population greater than than Basalt today.
The proposed new city will require long term planning and preparation which is not fully
defined or disclosed in the application. This new infrastructure must perform while also
ensuring older infrastructure is capable of providing adequate electricity, water, sewer and
traffic services to existing development. So, please ask yourself the following questions:
If Harvest Roaring Fork must go totally electric, is that feasible? Where does the power
come from?
What infrastructure alterations are required by the various utilities to meet the new
PUC mandate? Can they be accomplished in the required timeframe? Can they still
provide reliable, affordable electricity to existing communities and population?
How does the new PUC mandate impact the economics of affordable/workforce
housing? Will potential owners of this housing be able to afford their electric bills?
Can the developer actually obtain the necessary electric equipment/supplies required
to make homes all electric when competing with current AI/utility projects nationwide?
If there is an economic downturn similar to 2008 can Garfield County actually end up
with a SURPLUS of housing, depressing all home values? This happened to Iron Bridge,
Aspen Glen, Teller Springs and Coryell Ranch. It can happen again.
If affordability is the issue, then one can easily argue that the PUC just guaranteed high
cost, low reliability electricity. That threatens many businesses. It makes life harder for
people. Do they keep coming? Do they move? Did the PUC raise the risk of recession?
What happens in a prolonged electric power blackout? Xcel put large parts of Denver
and its suburbs in the dark a few weeks ago, due to high winds. The power was out in
some areas for two or three days. Xcel seems to have numerous problems already in
our valley with repeated blackouts. How does adding a new city to the electric load
help anyone?
How is all of this new infrastructure financed? Do the citizens of the new town bear the
financial burden of the new infrastructure? Where is the detailed infrastructure plan
showing everything required and how it will be paid for?
From your vantage point as County Commissioners and elected representatives of the
existing communities in the valley you must have many additional questions concerning
the lack of definitive and complete information provided by the applicant. You must
therefore question whether the foundation exists upon which a large new city, which
would undermine the quality of life for everyone currently living in the valley, should even
be contemplated.
Sincerely yours,
Fred Standefer
Carbondale, CO