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Last Friday the Collaborative wrapped up the public comment period on the 41 CAP recommendations shared at last month’s public open house. Between the event and online comment forms, over 85 people provided comments spanning all five of the CAP sectors. The CAP Collaborative Board looks forward to reviewing the public comments today at their monthly Board meeting.
The public comment forum provided an opportunity for all members of the public to share their views on what the CAP recommendations were getting right, what might be missing and general comments about the proposed recommendations. In general there was overall positive support for the recommendations, and it is evident that the CAP is moving forward in the right direction for our community.
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CAP Board Chair Counselor Gail Garey provides an overview of the CAP Collaborative to an audience of over 175 attendees at last month's CAP Collaborative Public Open House. | |
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 [email protected]. | |
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Climate News
Debate relating to outdoor snowmelt use in Routt County continues, centering on concerns around the size and fuel-source for snowmelt systems. Updated building codes proposed by the Routt County Building Department (which also serves as the Steamboat Springs Building Department) recommend minimizing outdoor energy use on residential and commercial buildings unless it is powered by 100% renewable energy. The recommendation aligns with a high priority recommendation out of the CAP Energy Working Group.
Routt County Commissioners have indicated they support a ban, while a narrow majority of City Council members still has concerns and reservations.
The building code update is an opportunity to avoid the mistakes the cities of Vail and Aspen have regrettably made with regard to the support of snowmelt systems which have proven expensive, extensive and energy intensive. While a snowmelt ban could be implemented in the next building code update (three years from now), any gas-powered snowmelt systems installed between now and then will likely be around for the next 25 years.
City Council will consider snowmelt during future meetings. For information on City Council meeting times and public comments, visit steamboatsprings.net/89/Agendas-Minutes.
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Action You Can Take
COOL DOWN WITH A HEAT PUMP
Dubbed a “double duty comfort machine” by clean energy nonprofit RMI, heat pumps are a cost-effective way to heat and cool your home with a smaller carbon footprint.
The greatest difference between heat pumps and traditional furnaces is that heat pumps capture warm air and move it, rather than using fossil fuels to create it. They can serve air conditioning and heating needs in one appliance.
Because they don’t burn fossil fuels, heat pumps are known to be safer, more environmentally friendly and ultimately more cost effective than traditional heating and cooling methods, according to RMI.
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Climate News
Colorado State University Extension’s Derek Lowstuter gave a presentation on biochar alongside land management partners last week. Here are some fun facts he shared:
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Biochar is sometimes referred to as "the carbon wrench," because it is a tool that can be used to sequester carbon in soil, rather than carbon getting released into the atmosphere through plant decomposition or wildfires.
- Studies have shown that the greenhouse gas sequestration benefits of biochar overcompensate for the amounts of N2O, CO2 and CH4 that are emitted during its production.
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In 2017, the Colorado State Senate issued a bipartisan, joint resolution to support research, application and development of biochar locally.
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The United State Congress will consider the 2023 Biochar Research Network Act, which would establish a network for researching the technology.
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Action You Can Take
The Summer is a great time to get outside and get your hands dirty with the Yampa Valley Climate Crew. Volunteers are needed for three upcoming projects. All ages and abilities are encouraged to sign up.
RESTORE WET MEADOWS
Date: August 5-6
Location: California Park
Project: Restore wet meadows in California Park by constructing rock Zeedyk structures in streambeds. This work helps raise the water table and restore wet meadows, which are vital for carbon sequestration and wildlife habitat such as sandhill cranes, boreal toads and greater sage-grouse.
CONDUCT SEEDLING SURVEYS
Date: August 24-26
Location: Big Red Park
Date: September 7-9
Location: Silver Creek Fire site
Project: The US Forest Service is planning to reforest these areas (home to carbon sequestering and moisture storing conifers) but must first determine priority sites. To help in this effort, the Yampa Valley Climate Crew will be measuring seedling regeneration and mapping future reforestation sites to determine where tree planting will be necessary.
Contact [email protected] with any questions.
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Climate Win
The 2023 CARbon-Free Challenge was a great success. Together, a record 211 participants logged 10,752 miles, saving 474 gallons of gas and 4.1 tons of CO2 emissions.
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Climate News
The State of Colorado has increased the amount in tax credit dollars residents can receive if they purchase an electric vehicle. Residents can now earn a $5,000 incentive on the purchase of any electric vehicle costing less than $80,000.
Starting in 2024, an additional incentive of $2,500 will be available for low-income residents purchasing a vehicle that costs less than $35,000.
The funding comes from House Bill 1272, which also includes incentives for heat pumps and e-bikes.
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Action You Can Take
Routt County, the City of Craig and the City of Steamboat Springs are collaborating to study how a rural transportation authority (RTA) could benefit the Yampa Valley.
An RTA is an organization that manages the transportation systems in a region, and can include roadways, bike paths, public transit and more.
Local governments will be seeking public input on the formation of an RTA later this summer, and encourage residents to sign up for updates.
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Climate Win
The Town of Yampa hosted a "Neighborhood Clean-Up Day" on June 24th. One 30-yard roll-off and two 45-yard containers for steel and metals were filled and hauled away.
| The event was a huge success and helped recycle almost 90 yards of steel and metals! | | |
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Action You Can Take
YAMPA RIVER CLEANUP -
SATURDAY, JULY 29
Friends of the Yampa and other partners are hosting a Yampa River Cleanup in Steamboat Springs this Saturday, July 29. The Steamboat cleanup will focus on 15 different stretches of the Yampa along with surrounding areas and downtown tributaries.
Volunteer check-in begins at 9:00am at Little Toots Park, 55 12th St, and the event runs till noon.
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BECOME A RECYCLING AMBASSADOR
The City of Steamboat Springs is seeking volunteers who are interested in coordinating with their neighbors to improve recycling in their community. Contact Alicia Archibald with any questions.
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Climate News
Alterra Mountain Company adopted a sustainability policy that includes the goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030. A recent study showed that the company emitted 367,827 metric tons of CO2 last year.
A first step for Steamboat Resort to support the sustainability policy is to track its waste diversion and reduce 90% of single-use plastics in its restaurants.
The resort also will conduct water use studies and set water conservation goals.
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Climate Win
On July 9, over 200 attendees, including nearly 30 local artists, gathered at La Joya Dulce ranch to celebrate the integration of art and climate action. Insight: Art for Climate Action, an inaugural fundraiser for the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council, showcased beautiful and inspiring art.
Each piece told a distinct and detailed story about issues within our ecosystems, waste streams, and energy, woven in with each artist's personal sense of connection to these topics and appreciation for our natural world.
The evening showed how powerful art can be to explore our relationships to the land, reflect on changing landscapes, honor the environments that we live in, and build community around shared ecosystems and visions for a more resilient future.
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Photo by Danielle Zimmerer | | |
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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 [email protected]. | | | | | |
