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Roosevelt County declines to act on permitting-reform support letter after contested exchange

Roosevelt County Commission ยท February 10, 2026

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Summary

A volunteer from Citizens Climate Lobby presented a template letter urging congressional permitting reform; commissioners asked for endorsements from state county groups and no motion was made, so action failed for lack of a motion.

A volunteer with the Citizens Climate Lobby asked Roosevelt County commissioners to consider a template letter supporting comprehensive federal permitting reform, saying the measure aims to speed transmission lines and other infrastructure and is not limited to any single industry.

"At the hearing in the Environment and Public Works Committee on Jan. 28... the basic reality is that energy demand is growing faster than our ability to meet it," Alex Ammonett said, summarizing testimony and urging early community engagement in permitting. Ammonett identified himself as a volunteer with Citizens Climate Lobby and said several counties had already provided support letters.

Commissioners pressed Ammonett on local energy needs and endorsements. One commissioner said the county relies heavily on oil, gas and coal as baseload power in winter and urged the presenter to secure backing from MAKO (Montana Association of Counties) or the Montana Association of Oil, Gas and Coal Counties before seeking county support. The same commissioner told Ammonett, "I don't, I don't trust you at all," expressing skepticism about the request's provenance and use of other organizations' policy language.

Ammonett said he would seek further conversations with MAKO's energy committee and other county officials and noted he had already received letters of support from several counties, which he offered as editable templates for local use. Commissioners asked for time to review and to verify endorsements from the state groups mentioned.

The commission asked for discussion before a motion but no motion was presented. The chair announced the "action on the letter support fails due to a lack of motion."