How Routt County Built a Roadmap for Building Electrification

For mountain communities, buildings can be a climate problem hiding in plain sight. They are where people live, work, gather, vacation, and stay warm through long winters. They are also, in many places, the largest source of local emissions.

In a recent Mountain Towns 2030 webinar, Paul Bony of the Western Resilience Center, along with John Balfe and Michael Goodrum of NORESCO, walked through how the Routt County Climate Action Collaborative developed a 30-year community-wide building electrification and decarbonization roadmap and, just as importantly, the dashboard and implementation tools to make that roadmap usable.

Starting with the Carbon Problem

Routt County, home to Steamboat Springs and the Yampa Valley, adopted its Climate Action Plan in 2020. The countywide goal is ambitious: reduce carbon emissions 78% by 2050. But unlike some communities where transportation dominates the emissions picture, buildings are Routt County’s largest source – responsible for about 48% of local emissions.

That finding gave the Climate Action Collaborative a clear mandate – if the county was going to meet its long-term climate goals, it needed a serious plan for the building sector.

The Collaborative itself is regional by design. It includes Routt County, the City of Steamboat Springs, and the towns of Oak Creek, Yampa, and Hayden, with the Western Resilience Center serving as the administrative agency. When the Colorado Energy Office released Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, Routt County’s existing regional partnership made it a strong fit.

The grant helped fund three deliverables: a building electrification and decarbonization plan, a dashboard to track progress over time, and a public-facing story map to help communicate the work to residents and local leaders.

Building the Inventory from the Bottom Up

Routt County already had a countywide emissions inventory, completed by Lotus Engineering and Sustainability. But to build a building-sector roadmap, the team needed to understand what was happening inside that sector, so they built a bottom-up inventory of the county’s buildings.

The model combined Routt County assessor data with ComStock and ResStock, two National Renewable Energy Laboratory datasets that estimate building energy use by type, climate zone, and other characteristics. NORESCO filtered those datasets to Colorado Climate Zone 7 to better represent Routt County’s cold mountain climate, then matched them with local building types and fuel data.

It was not a perfect dataset – heating fuel information was incomplete in places. Building categories did not always line up cleanly. But after calibration against the county’s previous emissions inventory, NORESCO’s model came within about 1% of the overall inventory – close enough to give the Collaborative confidence that the roadmap was grounded in reality.

The deeper inventory confirmed several important things: Residential buildings make up most of the county’s building stock, and commercial buildings account for slightly more total building-sector emissions. When the team looked specifically at fossil fuel emissions from natural gas and propane, residential buildings (especially single-family homes) became the central challenge. Single-family buildings alone were responsible for roughly 45% of fossil fuel-based building emissions.

The Dashboard: Turning Targets Into Decisions

Instead of choosing a subscription software platform, the Collaborative wanted something it could own, update, and adapt. NORESCO built the dashboard in Excel, with editable inputs for retrofit quantities, grid emissions, new construction rates, and other assumptions.

The dashboard allows the Collaborative to test different pathways. What happens if the electric grid reaches 80% clean energy around 2030, as Yampa Valley Electric Association’s new power supply contract is expected to do? What if the grid reaches 100% clean electricity by 2045? What if retrofit volumes grow slowly? What if they grow aggressively?

With a cleaner grid, Routt County can make major progress toward its building-sector emissions targets. But even under a 100% clean electricity scenario, natural gas and propane emissions remain – buildings still have to be retrofitted and fossil fuel heating still has to be addressed.

The dashboard also made the scale of work visible. To hit the Collaborative’s original 2030 retrofit percentage targets, the county would need to retrofit thousands of buildings per year – a pace that would be difficult in any community, and especially challenging in a rural mountain region with limited contractor capacity. The recommended pathway relaxes the near-term retrofit volume while still meeting 2030 and 2050 emissions targets, then ramps building retrofits over time.

That is the power of a good model – it does not just say “electrify buildings,” it helps leaders understand what is technically possible, what is operationally realistic, and where the gaps are.

From Plan to Programs

The 50-plus-page decarbonization plan focuses on removing fossil fuels from Routt County’s building sector. It identifies high-impact retrofit packages – including heat pumps, envelope improvements, lighting upgrades, and appliance electrification – and then pairs those measures with policy and program options that could actually drive adoption.

Three ideas stood out:

First is a HeatSmart-style campaign or energy concierge program that provides human support to residents trying to navigate audits, bids, incentives, contractors, and equipment choices. In rural communities, where contractor capacity may be limited and trust matters, that kind of peer-to-peer support can be the difference between interest and action.

Second is a “Slope Smart Homes” concept aimed at second homes and vacation properties. These homes can be large energy users and difficult to reach through standard outreach. By working with Home Owner Associations (HOAs), property managers, rental agencies, utilities, and homeowners, a mountain community can start with practical measures like smart thermostats, smart plugs, and education – then build toward deeper retrofits.

Third is an “Electrify Routt” program modeled in part on Breckenridge’s electrification work. The idea is to use local funding to close the gap between existing incentives and the actual cost of heat pump projects, especially for workforce housing and community-serving properties. One potential funding mechanism is a renewable energy mitigation program, where high-energy outdoor uses such as snowmelt systems, pools, or hot tubs either install onsite renewable energy or pay into a fund that supports public electrification projects.

Financing remains one of the biggest barriers. Paul Bony noted that the Collaborative is exploring options including micro-PACE, on-bill financing through the local electric cooperative, and leasing structures for geothermal heat pumps that may allow tax credits to be captured by the leasing entity.

The Workforce Reality

Paul put the scale plainly: the community needs roughly 10,000 heat pumps over the next 20-plus years. That means local contractors have a choice – become part of the solution, or watch the work get imported from outside the region.

A recent local “heat pump hoedown” drew 190 registrations across contractor and public sessions. Colorado Mountain College is working on heat pump apprenticeship training. The Northwest Colorado Development Council has launched the Northwest Colorado Innovation Center in Craig and hired a workforce development manager, with HVAC contractors and apprentices among its first focus areas.

That ecosystem matters because electrification is not just a technology transition – it is a workforce transition, an economic development opportunity, and a local capacity challenge.

Routt County is also taking a nuanced approach to the grid. In a cold climate with 9,500 heating degree days at 6,000 to 7,000 feet, peak demand matters, and full electrification with electric resistance backup could create serious distribution challenges. In some cases, dual-fuel systems may be more practical in the near term, while ground-source heat pumps can reduce the need for supplemental heat.

Key Takeaways for Mountain Towns

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This article is part of the Mountain Towns 2030 webinar recap series. The full webinar recording and presentation materials will be shared with registrants, and the next MT2030 webinar is scheduled for June 17 on implementing innovative sustainable building design through collaboration. Register here!

Rethinking Transportation in Mountain Towns: Local Leaders Share Innovation & Challenges

Transportation in mountain towns comes with unique constraints—remote geography, steep terrain, seasonal population swings, and growing workforce housing challenges.

At the Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Summit in Breckenridge, transit leaders from Park City, Winter Park, and the Telluride–Mountain Village area shared how they are designing systems that meet these realities while advancing climate and community goals.

The session featured Alex Roy, PTP (Park City, Utah), Charles McCarthy, CCTM (Winter Park, Colorado), and James Loebe (Mountain Village Telluride, Colorado), moderated by Edward Parks , a global infrastructure leader). Together, they highlighted how mountain communities are rethinking mobility to reduce congestion, lower emissions, and better serve residents, workers, and visitors.

Transit in Mountain Towns Means Planning for Constant Change

Mountain transit systems must adapt to dramatic seasonal shifts. Winter tourism can drive intense peaks, but summer demand is increasingly significant as outdoor recreation grows year-round.

In Winter Park, CO, this dynamic defines the system. Only two routes run year-round, with the rest deployed in winter. In contrast, Telluride and Mountain Village have seen a reversal in ridership trends. Loebe explained, “We were 60/40 winter summer, and now we’re seeing like 40/60 winter summer,” reflecting the rise of summer visitation.

The takeaway is clear: mountain transit systems must be flexible, responsive, and built for variability.

Park City’s Regional Model Balances Local and Long-Distance Travel

Park City has separated local and regional transit into two complementary systems. Park City Transit focuses on in-town service, while High Valley Transit serves a broader footprint, connecting to surrounding communities and Salt Lake City.

This structure allows each system to specialize while still functioning as part of a larger network.

Within the city, transit has evolved from a single route into a comprehensive system connecting neighborhoods, resorts, and recreation areas. Recent additions, like trailhead connectors, aim to reduce congestion at popular outdoor destinations.

Roy emphasized the importance of aligning transit with housing and development patterns, adding that his team meets regularly with city officials planning low and moderate-income housing developments “to understand where the new developments might be happening… and we work with developers to talk about what the transit system would look like accessing those locations.”

Winter Park Is Building Service Around Workforce and Regional Need

Winter Park’s system, The Lift, serves a large area across Grand County and functions as the region’s only public transit provider.

Because many workers commute across long distances, transit planning is closely tied to workforce needs. McCarthy described bringing employers into the process. “I contacted all the department heads… and said, ‘Hey guys, let’s look at this schedule together. Tell me what works, tell me what doesn’t work,’” he explained.

At the same time, the system must balance visitor demand with essential community trips. As McCarthy noted, “If you set in a route that’s not going to serve those [major destinations], you have to be able to justify that through means other than just ridership.”

This reflects a core reality for mountain transit: not every route is about maximizing ridership—some are about maintaining access and community function.

The Telluride–Mountain Village Gondola Shows the Potential of Mountain-Specific Transit

The Telluride–Mountain Village gondola is a standout example of designing transit around terrain. It replaces what would otherwise be a long and winding drive with a direct aerial connection.

As Loebe explained, “We take a seven and a half mile car ride… about an eighteen- to twenty minute drive… and we turn it into a two and a half mile, direct, twelve minute ride.”

The system supports about 3.1 million passenger trips annually and avoids roughly 5,600 metric tons of CO₂ emissions each year. Loebe added, “It would take 42 50-passenger buses to equal the capacity of the gondola system.”

Originally built as part of environmental mitigation requirements, the gondola is now a core piece of regional infrastructure, funded through local mechanisms including a real estate transfer assessment and voter-approved taxes.

It highlights how non-traditional transit modes can be highly effective in mountain environments where roads are constrained.

Pilots and Experimentation Can Reveal What Works

Mountain communities are increasingly using pilot projects to test ideas before scaling them.

In Park City, experiments—from neighborhood traffic calming to transit service pilots—have helped refine long-term planning. A microtransit pilot revealed limitations, including overlap with existing routes and reduced reliability during peak demand.

As Roy explained, the system struggled when demand was highest, with riders encountering “zero availability” during peak winter conditions.

As a result, the city shifted resources toward fixed-route service, prioritizing predictability over flexibility.

Winter Park is taking a more targeted approach, using microtransit in areas where buses are less effective, rather than replacing core routes.

Electrification Offers Big Promise, but Mountain Conditions Still Matter

Both Park City and Winter Park are transitioning to electric buses, but mountain conditions introduce added complexity.

Roy highlighted both the promise and the challenge: “A cleaner system… a quieter system… [but] EV batteries lose a lot of juice in the winter.”

Cold temperatures, steep terrain, and charging logistics all impact performance, requiring new approaches to planning and operations.

Winter Park is early in its transition, working with partners to install charging infrastructure and identify where electric buses can be most effective. McCarthy emphasized the importance of collaboration, noting that success depends on working closely with operators and maintenance teams to adapt in real time.

Funding and Governance Remain Central Challenges

Transit systems depend on strong regional collaboration and reliable funding. In San Miguel County, early partnerships between municipalities eventually led to a broader regional transportation structure.

But building that kind of system is not always straightforward. Securing voter approval, aligning priorities across jurisdictions, and navigating funding uncertainty remain significant hurdles.

Still, the panel emphasized that transit investments can reduce the need for costly road expansions while improving long-term sustainability and quality of life.

Key Takeaways for Mountain Towns

Build strong funding and partnerships: Long-term success depends on regional collaboration and stable funding.Mountain towns sit at the intersection of climate pressure, tourism demand, and geographic constraint. But as this discussion showed, they are also leading innovation in mobility—developing systems that are not only more sustainable, but better suited to the places they serve.

Register for the Mountain Towns 2030 Sun Valley 2026 Climate Solution Summit Here.

How two mountain towns are embracing clean energy: “Renewables are not only environmentally but economically beneficial”

Making the transition to clean energy isn’t just a survival strategy for mountain towns facing the impacts of a warming climate – but it also offers a significant economic opportunity.

In a discussion at the Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Solutions Summit in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, leaders from two mountain towns – Park City, Utah and Ridgway, Colorado – provided a playbook for other communities looking to make the transition.

The conversation, moderated by Volts podcast host david roberts , featured Park City Sustainability Manager Luke Cartin and Terence (Terry) Schuyler , Town Council Member of Ridgway, Colorado and co-op energy specialist speaking to dozens of leaders from mountain towns across America.

The panel delved into the complexities and opportunities of greening electrical grids in small towns and rural areas, exploring the balance between local initiatives and broader systemic limitations.

David Roberts opened the session by emphasizing the central role of electricity in achieving sustainability and decarbonization goals. He noted the unique challenges faced by small towns reliant on larger utility-controlled grids, which often prioritize urban and high-demand areas.

“Electricity is at the heart of sustainability,” he said. “Addressing grid infrastructure and energy sources is key to meeting climate goals.”

Small towns must find innovative ways to modernize their systems, navigate political barriers, and influence utility decisions—no small feat for communities with limited resources.

Luke Cartin showcased Park City’s journey as a renewable energy leader within the larger Rocky Mountain Power utility service area. Despite the constraints of being part of a large grid, the town achieved significant milestones by building strategic partnerships and forming coalitions.

“Collaboration is key,” Cartin said. “By uniting rural and urban communities, we’ve proven that renewables are not only environmentally but economically beneficial.”

Here’s how they they did it:

Terry Schuyler brought a contrasting perspective from Ridgway, Colorado, where the town operates within a member-owned cooperative utility framework. Schuyler highlighted how co-ops can serve as powerful tools for advancing local renewable energy goals.

“Our co-op model allows us to align renewable energy goals with community needs, making progress that’s tangible and locally relevant,” Schuyler said.

Some of the strategies Ridgway used include:

Both Cartin and Schuyler addressed the challenges of advancing clean energy in politically conservative and rural regions. Cartin shared how Park City framed renewable energy as a tool for local control and economic stability to overcome skepticism. Meanwhile, Schuyler described using transparent dialogue and persistent outreach to win over critics.

“Local control and economic benefits resonate deeply. Framing renewables as tools for independence can help overcome barriers,” Cartin suggested.

The discussion emphasized the importance of resilience as rural towns face increasing threats from climate change and natural disasters. Both Park City and Ridgway are investing in microgrids to improve energy independence and reliability.

In Ridgway, a $2.5 million grant is funding a town-wide microgrid with solar systems feeding into a decentralized energy network.

And in Park City, efforts are focused on isolating critical infrastructure, like hospitals, from the larger grid through localized renewables and underground distribution lines.

“Resilience isn’t just about surviving disasters—it’s about thriving in the face of them,” Roberts said.

The session concluded with a lively Q&A addressing misinformation about renewables. The panelists underscored the importance of community education and transparent storytelling.

“The truth won’t tell itself,” Roberts argued. “Proactively sharing accurate, compelling narratives about renewables is essential to their success.”

Key takeaways for success?

  1. Build Coalitions: Collaboration among towns amplifies influence and enables large-scale renewable energy projects.
  1. Leverage Local Control: Frame renewables as tools for independence and economic stability to gain community buy-in.
  2. Invest in Resilience: Microgrids and distributed energy systems enhance energy reliability and disaster preparedness.
  3. Engage and Educate: Transparent communication and persistent outreach are essential to overcoming opposition and skepticism.

The panel underscored the transformative potential of small towns in driving the clean energy transition. Through coalitions, co-op collaboration, and innovative resilience projects, communities like Park City and Ridgway are proving that sustainable progress is not only possible but economically and socially beneficial.

Mountain Towns 2030 is a non-profit organization empowering a movement of mountain towns committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. If you’d like to learn more or support MT2030’s work, click here.

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Climate action starts at home: How individuals and and communities can drive change: “The clean energy transition is happening now”

Speaking to dozens of leaders from mountain towns across America, co-founder and CEO of the non-profit Rewiring America Ari Matusiak and Volts podcast host david roberts emphasized that the journey to net-zero emissions starts at home – and they urged leaders not to underestimate the power of demand from their communities.

In a discussion at the Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Solutions Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Matusiak and Roberts spoke about “kitchen table decisions” that can create collective impact towards climate solutions.

“Nearly 42% of energy-related emissions in the U.S. originate from five household-level decisions: how we drive, heat our homes, heat water, cook food, and dry clothes,” he said.

By focusing on these “kitchen table decisions,” Matusiak explained, communities can create substantial collective impact.

Roberts described this shift as the “demand-side revolution,” emphasizing the power of individuals to reshape energy systems through their choices.

“Electrification isn’t just about reducing emissions—it’s about putting power back in the hands of households and communities,” Roberts said.

Rewiring America’s mission is to electrify everything – and make it easier for consumers to take advantage of rebates and incentives for sustainable upgrades available through the Inflation Reduction Act, including:

“The IRA is like an electric bank account for every household,” Matusiak explained. “The challenge now is making sure people know how to access it.”

To do that, Rewiring America has developed practical tools:

Rewiring America’s Rewiring Communities initiative also aggregates local demand to drive down costs and standardize installations. This approach creates a ripple effect, making electrification more accessible and attractive to residents.

“Aggregating demand doesn’t just save money—it builds momentum,” Matusiak said, “When one neighbor installs a heat pump, others follow.”

Here’s how it can work:

Roberts identified a significant barrier to electrification: a shortage of skilled contractors familiar with new technologies.

“This is a chicken-and-egg problem. Contractors won’t embrace electrification without demand, and households won’t demand it without skilled contractors,” he said.

To address that gap, they suggested that local leaders partner with manufacturers to train contractors, launch pilot programs to build a network of reliable installers, and offer resources and financial support to contractors adopting electrification practices.

Matusiak also addressed fears about grid reliability, a common concern as communities shift to electric systems. He suggested several ways communities can improve their resilience:

“Electrification doesn’t weaken the grid—it strengthens it by making it smarter and more distributed,” Matusiak said.

The bottom line? “The clean energy transition isn’t a far-off dream—it’s happening now, one household at a time,” Roberts said.

Roberts and Matusiak left the audience with actionable insights:

  1. Households have power: By electrifying homes, individuals can significantly reduce emissions and save on energy costs.
  2. Communities drive change: Aggregated demand creates cost savings and inspires broader adoption.
  3. The IRA Is a gamechanger: With billions in incentives, the IRA makes electrification more affordable than ever.
  4. Simplify the process: Tools like the Rewiring America Calculator make navigating incentives easier for households.

Achieving net-zero emissions doesn’t require waiting for sweeping policy changes or technological breakthroughs – by focusing on household-level decisions and empowering communities, home electrification offers a practical, scalable solution.

“The clean energy future isn’t just possible—it’s already underway,” Roberts said.

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