Garfield County continues support for GCE
Journey Home receives $200,000 grant for animal care services
PRESS RELEASE
February 11, 2026
Garfield County is continuing its support of Garfield Clean Energy (GCE), approving $150,000 grant to the nonprofit for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs in the region. GCE’s ReEnergize Garfield County program has allocated $380,000 in rebates alone to Garfield County residents since 2022, while saving participants as much as $100 a month on energy bills.
GCE contracts with CLEER (Clean Energy Economy for the Region) to manage programs and services for Garfield County businesses and residents.
Morgan Hill, associate director at CLEER, told the Board of County Commissioners that GCE’s focus areas include energy efficiency; locally produced renewable energy, especially solar; clean transportation; and economic development and diversification.
“We save residents, businesses, and local governments money on their energy bills,” she said. “All of this is under the umbrella of economic development and diversification. When we save people and governments money on their energy bills, it frees up that money to spend on other things and to boost the economy.”
GCE also provides free energy coaching for residents, businesses, and commercial property owners, including information on rebates and financing, recommendations on appliances, and lists of available contractors.
“There are a lot of financial resources rights now in the form of rebates and incentives to make energy upgrades in homes and businesses,” Hill said.
Created through an intergovernmental agreement, GCE consists of the seven local governments, as well as Colorado Mountain College, and the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA), with Garfield County Libraries and Holy Cross Energy having joined as affiliate members. Garfield County is a founding member of GCE.
Kim Englehart, a Town of Silt trustee who serves as vice chair on the GCE advisory board, told the board that the nonprofit is a huge benefit to Garfield County, providing a substantial positive impact for the community in reducing the local carbon footprint and helping to make housing more affordable.
“This is an agency that creates value and increases longevity and reduces waste,” she said. “GCE is helping citizens and the school districts save money on energy and utility bills. The countywide support is really appreciated.”
CGE is hosting a geothermal industry and market open house on March 9, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., at Colorado Mesa University (CMU), as it looks more into geothermal power generation in Garfield County in 2026.
“We are broadly inviting folks to the event to focus on geothermal and the CMU geothermal network they have that is receiving a lot of attention,” Hill said. “It is saving CMU a lot of money. Geothermal power is a significant emerging opportunity that can provide 24/7 baseload electricity.”
“I’m familiar with geothermal heating and cooling,” added Commissioner Perry Will. “My in-laws installed six 250-foot wells and in the winter their heating bill was less than $25.”
The GCE grant, which was previously budgeted for out of the county’s nonprofit discretionary fund, was approved unanimously, 3-0.
County backs Journey Home Animal Care Center with $200,000 grant
The Board of County Commissioners approved a $200,000 nonprofit discretionary grant for Journey Home Animal Care Center in Rifle for its continued care and veterinary services for stray animals from throughout Garfield County. The nonprofit reported that it sheltered 1,146 animals, handed out 4,500 pounds of dry pet food alone, and spayed or neutered nearly 1,100 animals in 2025.
Journey Home Executive Director Heather Grant told the board that they operate a “fear-free” shelter, which strives to help the animals better handle an already stressful situation.
“All of our staff take part in fear-free shelter training, which means that we take steps to ensure every animal has a fear-free stay (at Journey Home),” she said. “For example, peanut butter is provided (for dogs) during shots and cats are carried around the shelter in a crate, so it reduces their stress. Stress causes their immune system to go down, which causes a greater chance for disease outbreak.”
Hattie Rensberry, Journey Home marketing and communications manager, told the board that Journey Home has been working with the community through volunteering opportunities.
“We have volunteer groups that span from Camp B.A.D.G.E. (local junior police academy) to local student groups, and recently we brought in the royalty from the Garfield County Fair,” she said. “It’s been such a joy. There’s been a lot of youngsters from different age groups and interests that have these wonderful connections with our animals.”
Rensberry added that being in a rural area with limited access to veterinary care, Journey Home fills the gap for the community.
“Right now, our veterinarian is performing a significant amount of spays and neuters,” she said. “Last year, she performed 1,087 spay or neuter procedures. That greatly reduces the amount of animals that are reproducing in our communities.”
In 2025, Journey Home’s pet food pantry provided 4,500 pounds of dry pet food in Garfield County, including from mobile pickup sites offered in Parachute, Rifle, and Silt.
“That’s another community program that has really allowed us to support people,” Rensberry said. “We’re looking at our most vulnerable populations, we’re looking at animals in need of spay or neuter resources, community members who need vaccine resources, and people who need help feeding their pets. … Nobody should have to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their dog.”
“We also adopt out and foster pets based on that animal’s needs,” Grant added. “We value the human-animal bond, and the positive impact it has on both the animal’s and people’s quality of life.”
The Journey Home grant, which was previously budgeted for out of the county’s nonprofit discretionary fund, was approved, 2-1, with Commissioner Will dissenting.
“I appreciate what you do for the community, and you provide a very important service,” added Commissioner Tom Jankovsky.