Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO) is staying silent on the Trump Administration’s decision to cancel two Department of Energy (DOE) projects, totaling over $33 million, in his district.
According to a list of award terminations published by the Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee, two grants in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District (CD8) have been canceled: one with the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and another with United Power. The Trump administration announced the cancellations on Oct. 1.
Evans’ office did not respond to requests for comment from Politico in early October or from the Colorado Times Recorder during the past week, leaving questions unanswered on whether the House member is working to reverse the cuts or if he agrees with them.
In a news release issued on the same day that the energy cuts were announced, Evans didn’t mention the axed grants but pointed to Democrats as the problem for shutting down the government.
“House Republicans did our job, voting to keep the government open to ensure our nation’s troops and federal employees get the pay they deserve — while protecting our seniors and veterans’ access to the necessary support and benefits they’ve earned,” he said in the news release. “Meanwhile, Democrats abandoned the American people, played political games, and forced a shutdown over a $1.5 trillion spending spree and free healthcare for illegal immigrants.”
Outside CD8 in Colorado, the Democrats list over 30 projects totaling over $608 million that have been terminated, including $120 million in the district of Rep. Jeff Hurd, Colorado Republican, who is not seen as one of the lawmakers whose seat will likely determine which party controls the U.S. House after next year’s election.
The Energy Department’s withdrawal of grant funds comes as the Trump administration makes cuts across the federal government and is likely to face legal challenges.
“The termination of these critical energy projects will increase energy prices, eliminate jobs, and make the energy grid less reliable,” said House Appropriations Committee Democrats in a statement introducing the list of canceled grants. “ [Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought] canceled these projects despite the fact that DOE currently remains open and fully operational using unexpired financial resources.”
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, which lost a $27 million grant, said in a news release that the company is assessing its appeal options and that the terminated award impacts rural members in Wyoming, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Colorado.
Tri-State CEO Duane Highley stated in the news release that the grant’s demise was “disappointing.”
“The award would have offset some of the costs of implementing our demand response and load management programs, as well as other tools to optimize the system. We had been working with DOE over the last two years on the award, after being selected in October 2023,” stated Highley
In a statement to the Colorado Times Recorder, a spokesperson for the company said the grant will not impact employment and does not change the company’s plan to increase grid resiliency and reliability across its systems.
Trista Fugate, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for United Power, which lost a $6 million award, would not comment on how the canceled grant will impact employment.
The United Power project aimed to use floating solar panels to provide backup power for the aging generator at Fort Lupton’s sewage treatment plant and, also, to address algae blooms in a reservoir that feeds the plant, improving water quality, lowering the city’s monthly power costs by 9%, and providing a model for rural communities nationwide. The funding was part of the DOE’s Energy Improvements in Rural and Remote Areas program, included in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“Although we are disappointed with Oct. 1 news, we recognize the DOE’s decision,” Fugate said in a statement to the Colorado Times Recorder.
In its list of canceled grants, House Democrats provided a link to a government website with more details on federal awards. It stated that the United Power planned to partner with both Schneider Electric and Aims Community College in Greeley on the Fort Lupton grant. Neither returned requests for comment.
On social media in recent months, Evans promoted multiple appearances at Aims Community College. In July, Evans wrote on Facebook that he was “thrilled” to show Trump’s deputy secretary of labor the “cutting-edge work happening” at Aims. Evans also visited a United Power facility in Keensburg.
While Evans, who has been endorsed by Trump and is not a critic of the president or his policies, is silent on the termination of the Fort Lupton solar project, he hasn’t been shy recently about touting himself as a supporter of solar energy, promoting images of himself in front of solar panels, meeting with the solar industry, and expressing support for clean energy tax credits, though he’s also voted against them.
Meanwhile, Evans faces a tough election in 2026. In 2024, Evans defeated former Rep. Yadira Caraveo by less than a point. Caraveo dropped out of next year’s race, and the Democratic nominee has yet to be selected.
RELATED: A Floating Solar Array Could Help Fort Lupton Clean Its Water
Jason Salzman contributed to this report.
