CAP Recommendation Highlights for 2023 | |
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The Routt County CAP Collaborative has a lot to celebrate as it wraps up 2023. We are seeing the implementation of a number of CAP recommendations, and are confident we have the climate solutions we need to make real progress. As we move into the new year, it will take continued collaboration to use the right tools at this vital time to scale up climate action.
ENERGY
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Updated 2021 International Building Code adopted by all CAP governmental partners includes language proposed by the CAP Energy Working Group that outdoor heat snowmelt be powered by 100% renewable energy (Energy Recommendation 1).
TRANSPORTATION
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EV readiness requirements included in updated 2021 International Building Code and adopted by all CAP governmental partners (Transportation Recommendation 5).
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Residents and visitors can mitigate their air travel emissions through a partnership with the Yampa Valley Regional Airport and The Good Traveler Program (Transportation Recommendation 4)
LAND USE
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The Yampa River Forest Restoration Project, a partnership with the City of Steamboat Springs and the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council, convened 297 volunteers to plant 1,929 trees to help protect 1.04 miles of stream bank (Land Use Recommendation 5).
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Routt County approved new permitting regulations for utility-scale solar installations that include strong provisions for vegetation preservation and reclamation as well as for sensitive wildlife and habitat protection (Land Use Recommendation 8).
WASTE
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The City of Steamboat Springs passed a commercial recycling ordinance in March that has incremental goals for haulers to offer recycling services for commercial businesses and multi-family residences over an 18-month period (Waste Recommendation 9).
ECONOMY
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Colorado Green Business Network of the Yampa Valley program awarded a $60,000 grant from the USDA to expand its green business program. 12 businesses currently registered with 3 Bronze-level certification awarded (Economy Recommendation 6)
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City of Steamboat Springs approved a local procurement policy (Economy Recommendation 1)
From the CAP Collaborative family to yours, have a happy holiday!
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Each month we highlight a climate win/news item and action you can take across the CAP's five sectors. Celebrating our successes and steps taken will help us move the CAP forward together as a community. If you have a climate win or action you would like to share, please email info@routtclimateaction.com. | |
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Climate Win
ALL CAP GOVERNMENTS APPROVE BAN ON FOSSIL FUEL-POWERED SNOWMELT SYSTEMS
In a reversal of a previous vote, Steamboat Springs City Council moved unanimously on November 21 to require new outdoor snowmelt systems be powered by 100% renewable energy.
The decision, which will be reflected in the City’s updated building code starting January 1, 2024, is a significant step toward one of the CAP’s central goals to increase energy efficiency in buildings, and was a high-priority CAP Energy Working Group recommendation.
Fossil fuel-powered snowmelt systems emit 90 times more greenhouse gasses than traditional mechanical snow removal. Thanks to the City Council decision, these detrimental impacts on the community can be avoided in new residential and commercial developments.
The change aligns the City of Steamboat Springs with updated building codes already approved by Routt County, Oak Creek, Yampa and Hayden, and reflects the City's commitment to its adopted Climate Action Plan.
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Action You Can Take
PARTICIPATE IN YVEA'S GREEN CHOICE PROGRAM
Yampa Valley Electric Association (YVEA) offers an opt-in program for its customers to help increase the demand for renewable energy. Customers can pay a small additional fee on their electric bill, calculated per kilowatt hour of energy used, to purchase a Renewable Energy Credit (REC).
The power YVEA provides comes from a mix of sources, and is 45% renewable. So far, 234 residential customers and 30 commercial customers participate in the Green Choice Program.
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ORDER A FREE KIT TO MAKE YOUR HOME MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT
Atmos Energy is offering a free Energy Saver Kit to its customers. The kit includes a weatherstrip, indoor shrink window kits, a furnace filter whistle and a door corner guard – supplies all created to keep cold winter air outside and heat inside. (Note - there is a $5 shipping fee for the kit).
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The roof on this Steamboat Springs home is designed to divert snow and water away from the entry way and garage doors reducing the need for outdoor snowmelt. Courtesy: Brian Adams/APEX Architecture. | |
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Climate News
COLORADO CATTLEMEN'S AGRICULTURAL LAND TRUST CLOSES ON CRITICAL CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
The Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) plays an integral role in the implementation of conservation easements on open spaces throughout the Yampa Valley. Over the last calendar year, CCALT closed three easement projects in Routt County covering 859 acres.
These easements eliminate the development potential of property in perpetuity, protecting valuable habitat and migration corridors.
With the development of a state-level Additive Conservation program, CCALT is extending its conservation impact by connecting landowners of conserved properties with resources they need to further improve the resilience of their land moving forward. Resources could support projects like wildfire mitigation and riparian, wet meadows and water infrastructure restoration.
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Climate News
STATE AND COUNTY RECOMMENDATIONS ALIGN AROUND CLIMATE RESILIENCY
As Colorado continues to face longer periods of drought due to increasing temperatures and declining levels of precipitation, collaboration is needed on both the state and regional level to come up with solutions to increase climate resiliency.
The Colorado River Drought Task Force was tasked to come up with recommendations to address drought resilience in the Colorado River Basin and to ensure the state can meet its interstate commitments related to the Colorado River and its tributaries. They just released their final report and it is notable that two of the eight recommendations align with two of our own CAP Land Use recommendations:
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Recommendation 3. Prioritize Forest Health and Wildfire Ready Watersheds - add stronger criteria for state funding for Community Wildfire Protection Plans. (CAP Land Use Recommendation 6)
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Recommendation 8. Increase Funding and Support of Municipal Turf Removal - consider increasing funding levels of the Turf Removal Program to $5 million per year and increasing the amount one entity can access. (CAP Land Use Recommendation 10)
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Climate Win
ROUTT COUNTY LEADS BY EXAMPLE WITH PURCHASE OF FOUR FLEET EVS
Routt County has approved the purchase of four new electric vehicles to its fleet in what commissioners hope will be the beginning of an effort to make transportation options in the Yampa Valley greener. The vehicles will be used by 27 different County staff members in the road and bridge, assessor and environmental health departments.
The County has also applied for a grant from the Colorado Energy Office to create an EV Readiness Plan comparable to that created for the City of Steamboat Springs. If approved, the County will use the grant money to investigate the challenges and needs regarding EV adoption in the County and determine where to invest in charging infrastructure.
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Action You Can Take
MITIGATE HOLIDAY TRAVEL EMISSIONS THROUGH THE GOOD TRAVELER PROGRAM
Yampa Valley Regional Airport and the Routt County Climate Action Plan Fund have partnered with The Good Traveler program to help residents and visitors voluntarily mitigate their travel emissions. The program allows flyers to make a donation to the fund based on the number of air miles they’ve traveled.
These contributions support local climate projects through the Yampa Valley Community Foundation, spanning habitat restoration, waste reduction, renewable energy adoption, and climate-friendly transport.
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Climate Win
YAMPA VALLEY RECYCLES DEPOT WRAPS UP 2023 WITH IMPRESSIVE DIVERSION NUMBERS
The Yampa Valley Recycles Depot, a partnership with the City of Steamboat Springs, Routt County and the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council, continues to offer a green alternative to disposing of hard-to-recycle materials like electronics, batteries, light bulbs and more. Over 2023, the YVR Depot kept 33,653 pounds of electronics, 2,136 pounds of batteries and 4,133 light bulbs from being sent to the landfill and polluting our environment.
To learn more about the YVR Depot or to learn how to properly dispose of different materials, visit the Yampa Valley Recycles App or website. The app shares information on how to recycle different materials and what it will cost.
Location: 2851 Riverside Plaza, Unit 250A, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Hours: Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Contact info: (970) 387-4433 or email yvrdepot@yvsc.org.
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Action You Can Take
SHOP SUSTAINABLY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
There are lots of ways to minimize your environmental impact around the holidays. By choosing products with minimal packaging and combining your shipments, you can keep trash out of the landfill. Also consider the quality of the items you are buying, and opt for things that are long-lasting and ethically made with sustainable materials. Even better, look for secondhand or used items!
A good gift is a well-thought out gift, so be an advocate for slow, ethical and sustainable products this holiday season.
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RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE!
Beginning Friday and through the end of February, swing by Emerald Park to freely recycle your Christmas tree. The program is a partnership between the City's Parks and Recreation Department and SavATree. Mulch generated by green business member SavATree from this event will be freely available on a first-come, first-serve basis during the spring.
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Yampa Valley Recycles Depot, located at 2851 Riverside Plaza, Unit 250A in Steamboat Springs. | |
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Climate News
ELKSTONE FARM HELPS PIONEER AGRICULTURAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE COLORADO GREEN BUSINESS NETWORK OF THE YAMPA VALLEY
Elkstone Farm, already committed to sustainability through their guiding philosophy, resource reduction initiatives and permaculture practices, recently joined the Colorado Green Business Network of the Yampa Valley.
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The farm excels in waste reduction through composting, recycling, and biochar creation, supports sustainable purchasing, invests in solar power generation and also hosts workshops for community members who want to adopt similar methods.
As the third agriculture business in CGBN, Elkstone sets an example for statewide food producers, showcasing the program's potential impact. Read more about the site visit and insights from YVSC’s Green Business Intern Mackenzie Dotson.
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Action You Can Take
BECOME A BUSINESS LEADER FOR CLIMATE AND ATTEND JANUARY 23 GREEN BUSINESS WORKSHOP
Join Yampa Valley Sustainability Council and the Steamboat Springs Chamber to learn how your business can play a climate leadership role here locally, while enjoying economic and environmental co-benefits of the Colorado Green Business Network of the Yampa Valley program.
Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Time: 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. (lunch provided)
Location: Routt County Health and Human Services Community Room, 135 6th Street, Steamboat Springs
- Increase your understanding of the Colorado Green Business Network of the Yampa Valley program and the support role it can play in connecting your business with state resources.
- Identify community green business opportunities and challenges.
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Share a delicious (FREE!) lunch with a growing local green business community committed to empowering business leadership for climate.
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Reach out to CGBN-YV Program Manager, Ashley Dean, with any questions.
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Colorado Green Business Network of the Yampa Valley team on a site visit with Elkstone Farm owner Terry Huffington (right). | | |
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We’d love your help getting the word out about the CAP Collaborative. Please share this newsletter with your friends and encourage them to sign up to stay informed. Continue the conversation on Facebook and Instagram, and email us at info@routtclimateaction.com. | | | | | |
