Applications for the 3-year seat are due Thursday, November 16. Appointment begins January 1, 2024. | |
CAP Collaborative Board Accepting Community Seat Applications
Lend your time, expertise and passion for climate resiliency as a member of the Routt County Climate Action Plan Collaborative Board.
CAP Collaborative Board members help move the community toward a cleaner, greener future by overseeing policies, strategies, annual goals and progress metrics related to the Routt County Climate Action Plan.
The new board member will sit alongside three other community board members and a representative from each of the government partners — Routt County, the towns of Oak Creek, Yampa and Hayden, and the City of Steamboat Springs.
“This is a course setting decade for climate work, and the actions we take now at a local level matter,” said CAP Collaborative Board Chair Gail Garey. “Board membership is a unique opportunity to offer substantive expertise and to play a critical role in supporting the actualization of these recommendations.”
| | |
Getting to Know the Collaborative - Geoff Blakeslee
Geoff Blakeslee has contributed more than two decades of service to the people and nature of the Yampa Valley. Geoff and his wife Betsy were the stewards and managers of The Nature Conservancy's Carpenter Ranch outside of Hayden for 23 years before retiring, and were true leaders in the community bringing people, nature and agriculture together.
Geoff serves as one of four at-large community members of the CAP Collaborative Board, and he will be completing his term at the end of December. We thank him for his valued service and contributions, and look forward to his continued participation on the CAP Land Use Working Group.
Before departing, we wanted him to share some perspective on his time on the Board and why he encourages YOU to apply for his seat.
| |
| |
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. | |
|
Climate Win
YAMPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MOVES TO GEOTHERMAL-POWERED BUILDING
Yampa Valley Community Foundation recently moved into its new geothermal-powered building at 348 Oak Street in Steamboat Springs.
The decision to choose a Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) system over a conventional natural gas furnace and air conditioning system was the right decision from an environmental and fiscal standpoint, YVCF Executive Director Tim Wohlgenant said.
A GSHP system is about four times more efficient than a conventional natural gas system. In addition, maintenance costs over time are much less than a conventional system. YVCF’s payback period will be further shortened by the 40% tax credit provided in the Inflation Reduction Act, reducing up-front costs by one third.
The YVCF GSHP system costs more than twice what a conventional natural gas furnace and AC system would have cost. However, YVCF expects to break even on the cost difference in 5-10 years! That's a blink of an eye in the expected life of a building.
| |  |
|
Action You Can Take
HEAR FROM COLORADO ENERGY OFFICE SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR
| |
Yampa Valley Sustainability Council's November Community meeting will feature Christine Berg, Senior Policy Advisor with the Colorado Energy Office. Berg will give an overview of the Colorado GHG Pollution Reduction Roadmap 2.0 and upcoming climate action-supporting funding opportunities for local municipalities and partners.
The Routt County Climate Action Plan aligns with the state Roadmap by sector, and we have opportunities ahead to channel funding and capacity into the actions we need.
Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Time: 1 - 2 p.m.
Location: Virtual - register below
| |
A rendering of Yampa Valley Community Foundation's new geothermal-powered location on Oak Street. Courtesy: Yampa Valley Community Foundation. | |
|
Climate Win
COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO PLANT TREES
This fall, the City of Steamboat Springs, in partnership with the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council, held four different tree planting events throughout the valley, planting 775 cottonwoods along the Yampa River as part of the Riparian-Yampa River Forest Restoration Project.
| |
The projects will help to shade and cool the Yampa River as our region moves toward a hotter and drier future.
In a hopeful display of what people can achieve when they come together, nearly 300 volunteers of all ages came out to build connections with one another and the land through planting trees. Volunteers included a Girl Scouts troop, students from Yampa Valley High School, professionals in the recreation industry and local community members.
| | |
|
Action You Can Take
PLANT TREES ALONG ELKHEAD CREEK
Yampa Valley Climate Crew is hosting its final tree planting event of the season along Elkhead Creek Saturday, November 4 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Lower Elkhead Creek is a nine-mile stretch of creek below Elkhead Reservoir that has experienced significant bank erosion, channel incision, and riparian habitat degradation. Many landowners on Lower Elkhead Creek have been participating in a collaborative effort to restore the Elkhead Creek ecosystem, and Phase 1 of the restoration project currently includes a five-mile stretch of the creek directly below Elkhead Reservoir.
Yampa Valley Climate Crew is teaming up with private landowners and Trout Unlimted to plant native cottonwoods and willows that will help stabilize the banks and revitalize the riparian area.
A BBQ will be held to thank volunteers for their hard work!
| |
A group of volunteers plant trees at Carpenter Ranch during one of YVSC's ReTree events Oct. 7, 2023. | |
|
Climate Win
SSSD ELECTRIFIES SCHOOL BUS FLEET
Steamboat Springs School District is in the process of electrifying its school buses, and predicts its entire local fleet will be electrified by the 2024-25 school year.
The district received $1.67 million from the Colorado Electric School Bus Grant Program for the transition, and is waiting to hear back on a funding request from the Environmental Protection Agency. If granted, that money would cover 100% of the new vehicle costs.
The change will cut the district’s travel emissions by 132 metric tons, according to an article from the Steamboat Pilot & Today. The district will retain some gas or propane buses for out of town travel for locations that do have electric vehicle charging stations.
| | |
|
Climate News
RESEARCH FOR PASSENGER RAIL CONTINUES, WITH FUNDING
Investigations into the viability of a passenger rail service running from Denver to Craig has continued, with $5 million being allocated to CDOT for researching the rail line and other transit connectivity projects, such as the I-70 Bustang system.
The idea of restoring the passenger rail line, which until 1968 ran through Winter Park, Steamboat Springs and Craig, has become more feasible as the frequency of coal transport along that Union Pacific route has continued to decrease.
“We’ve been working hard to develop this critical rail option, and now we’re one step closer to making it a reality,” Rep. Meghan Lukens said in a CDOT press release. “Transitioning the existing rail line to passenger rail would lower the cost of living in our communities, create new job opportunities, connect people with more affordable housing options and grow our economy.”
| |
Electric school buses are becoming the norm at Steamboat Springs School District. Courtesy: Steamboat Springs School District. | |
|
Climate News
CREATING A CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Steamboat Springs Community Recycling Coordinator Alicia Archibald gave a presentation about the importance of a circular economy alongside other industry professionals at the Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Solutions Summit in Vail, CO.
We need to rethink our relationship with products, materials and food - how they are made and how they are used. Implementing a circular economy model reduces the carbon footprint of our industrial and agricultural sectors, optimizes economic efficiencies and improves resiliency, said the panelists.
Archibald discussed the waste diversion challenges currently facing Steamboat in regards to transporting recyclable materials, and the benefits of solving recycling problems locally vs. regionally.
In a discussion with the audience, Archibald found that many communities were struggling with recycling plastics #5-7, along with materials such as drywall, mattresses and construction debris.
| | |
|
Action You Can Take
PARTICIPATE IN PUMPKINS FOR PIGGIES
Community Agriculture Alliance, Rose West and Cowgirl Compost CO are asking residents to give their spooky Jack ‘O Lanterns a second life in November by participating in the “Pumpkins for Piggies” drop-off.
Drop off your old pumpkins at the Howelsen Rodeo Grounds November 1 from 4 p.m. until trucks are full, and they will be used for animal feed and compost. Please ensure pumpkins are free of paint, candles and wax. Once trucks are full, it will cost $5 to compost pumpkins.
Please contact Meredith with questions at rosewestag@gmail.com.
| |
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.
| |
Pumpkins for Piggies is an opportunity to keep Halloween green by getting food out of the landfill. | |
|
Climate News
CITY OF STEAMBOAT SPRINGS APPROVES LOCAL PROCUREMENT POLICY
Steamboat Springs City Council approved a local procurement policy that will give preference to local businesses when contracting out projects costing more than $10,000.
The policy will give preference to local bidders, so long as their bid is within $5,000 or 10% of the best competing, out-of-town bid. The decision directly aligns with CAP Economy Recommendation 1 to create and incentive green purchasing programs and policies.
| |
LEARN ABOUT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES WITH CGBN
Colorado Green Business Network (CGBN) is holding a virtual information event November 15 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. to educate business owners on grant opportunities.
The free event will feature information from The Colorado Energy Office and the Waste Diversion team at CDPHE on new grant opportunities regarding clean air, recycling resources and waste diversion.
| | |
|
Action You Can Take
GO VOTE!
One of the easiest and most impactful climate actions you can take to is to vote in your local elections. Local politicians have a direct impact on whether or not Routt County’s climate action goals will be implemented to bring our community toward a brighter future.
A polling center will be open in the Community Room of the Health and Human Services Building Oct. 30 - Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. If you vote in-person, be sure to bring your ID!
You can also return a mailed ballot in-person to ballot drop boxes before 7 p.m. on Nov. 7 at The Clark Store, the alley behind the historic Courthouse in Steamboat, 2025 Shield Drive in Steamboat, and town halls in Yampa, Oak Creek and Hayden.
To learn more about Steamboat City Council candidates, check out the recording of the Candidate Sustainability Forum held by YVSC.
| |
All ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 7. | | |
|
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. | | | | | |
