Guardians of the Headwaters: Indigenous Wisdom and Mountain Towns Collaborate for Climate Resilience

Mountain towns and ski areas occupy a unique and interconnected space in the landscape of climate resilience. Nestled at the headwaters of vital watersheds, these communities and recreation hubs share not only geography, but a common reliance on healthy forests, clean water, and stable ecosystems.

At the Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Summit in Breckenridge, Colorado in October 2025, a powerful conversation introduced by Geoffrey Grimmer, Town of Eagle, CO and featuring Alastair Lee Bitsóí & Thomas Bitsóí unfolded, bridging mountain communities with Indigenous voices from the Navajo Nation. This dialogue featured  the deep cultural knowledge, environmental challenges, and collaborative solutions that are essential to stewarding mountain landscapes amid a changing climate.

The Challenge in Mountain and Indigenous Communities

Mountain towns face numerous climate-related challenges — from increasing wildfire risks and drought stress to impacts on water quality and forest health. Ski areas, often located upstream, play a crucial role in managing the ecological health of headwaters that supply downstream communities. Yet, these challenges are not confined to mountain towns alone.

The Navajo Nation, spanning an area the size of West Virginia and framed by four sacred mountains as the ancestral lands of the Diné, confronts its own environmental legacies, including the aftermath of the legacy of uranium mining, milling, and contamination. Thomas Bitsóí, a former Navajo EPA official with over 20 years of experience, shared the scale of various environmental issues, including the issue of illegal dumpsites: “There’s probably over a thousand open dump sites across the Navajo Nation,” which pose ongoing threats to the land and people, reflecting the broader struggle to protect water and soil quality amid historical and ongoing industrial impacts.

At the heart of this conversation is the question of climate change itself. Thomas recounted a poignant moment asking his grandmother and mother if they had observed climate changes over their lifetimes. Both answered “No,” indicating how the Indigenous perspective of climate variations being part of natural cycles. “What changes occur… is us. The Five-Fingered People are the ones responsible for what is happening,” Thomas emphasized. This view invites reflection on humanity’s role in driving environmental change and the need for respectful stewardship.

Building Unlikely Alliances: Indigenous Knowledge Meets Mountain Town Climate Action

Alastair Lee Bitsóí, Thomas’s son and a journalist deeply engaged in Indigenous environmental advocacy, illustrated how Indigenous knowledge provides vital insights and solutions for climate resilience. He described the rediscovery and revival of traditional food systems, such as bringing back the drought-resilient Four Corners potato, as a form of climate mitigation: “I feel like I’m helping supply and survive or keep a food system, a superfood alive that our diets need that we forgot that we needed.”

This emphasis on ancestral food systems reflects a broader theme of reconnecting with the land and its rhythms. Alastair explained how such knowledge complements scientific understandings of climate change, blending cultural wisdom with data-driven approaches. “There’s data that now exists that says climate change is real… but human behavior is adding to the crazy,” he noted, highlighting the urgency to align human activities with ecological balance.

The conversation also addressed the complexities of energy transition within Indigenous territories. Alastair shared his experiences working with the Navajo Nation’s government, confronting debates over uranium mining, coal, and renewable energy development. While some leaders advocate infrastructure expansion for equity and development, others caution about repeating extractive mistakes. “There’s a constant threat of energy development in the Navajo Nation,” he said, reflecting the tension between economic needs and environmental protection.

From Ideas to Action: Collaborative Solutions in Mountain Landscapes

Mountain towns and ski areas are uniquely positioned to lead collaborative climate resilience efforts that honor Indigenous knowledge and address shared environmental challenges. The session highlighted examples of stewardship strategies including:

These approaches recognize that mountain ecosystems function as interconnected systems requiring partnerships across jurisdictions and cultures. Tools and resources are increasingly available to assess climate vulnerabilities and design adaptive strategies tailored to local contexts.

Key Takeaways for Mountain Towns

The Mountain Towns 2030 summit reveals the power of collaboration and cultural wisdom in confronting climate challenges. For mountain communities seeking practical actions, consider:

The voices of Thomas Bitsóí and Alastair Lee Bitsóí remind us that climate resilience is not simply a technical challenge but a deeply human one — rooted in respect for the land, intergenerational wisdom, and shared responsibility. Mountain towns, as guardians of these vital headwaters, have an opportunity and obligation to lead with humility, collaboration, and hope.

As Thomas reflected, “At the end of the day, we all sleep and we all eat, we all breathe this air, we all enjoy life. There’s no difference.” Embracing this unity can fuel the collective action needed to safeguard mountain homelands for generations to come.

For those interested in learning more or continuing the conversation, the Mountain Towns 2030 initiative offers resources and connections to support community-driven climate action rooted in both science and culture..

Together, mountain towns and Indigenous communities are weaving a resilient future — one grounded in the knowledge of the past and the promise of partnership.

How Mountain Towns and Utilities Can Shape a Sustainable Energy Future

Mountain towns face unique challenges when it comes to energy and climate resilience. Physical geography places many ski areas and mountain towns at the headwaters of critical watersheds, where forest health, wildfire risk, and water quality intersect. Energy infrastructure must not only meet the demands of residents and visitors but also accommodate extreme weather and seasonal fluctuations.

A key challenge is balancing the need for reliable energy with the imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A session at the 2025 Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Summit in Breckenridge, Colorado delved into how local governments can leverage the current regulatory environment to get utilities to do more around energy solutions and infrastructure resilience.

Featuring insights from sustainability leaders and legal experts involved in the Mountain Energy Project—a landmark Colorado utility proceeding—the discussion highlighted practical strategies, coalition-building, and regulatory engagement as tools for mountain communities to shape their energy future.

The Challenge in Mountain Communities: Navigating Energy Infrastructure and Climate Risks

In Summit County, Colorado and surrounding communities served by Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy), a forecasted peak hour natural gas supply shortfall on the coldest winter days spurred the Mountain Energy Project. This utility proposal aimed to address potential gas shortages without resorting to costly and carbon-intensive conventional pipeline expansions.

As Jessica Burley , Sustainability and Parking Manager for Breckenridge, explained, “The application filed by Public Service sought to avoid a $300 million investment in a new natural gas pipeline through a plan that included non-pipeline alternatives—measures that can defer, reduce or eliminate the need for new gas infrastructure by reducing demand.”

These non-pipeline alternatives (NPA) include electrification programs, building envelope improvements, and demand response initiatives. The Mountain Energy Project showcased how mountain communities can play an active role in shaping such plans to align with local climate goals, affordability concerns, and resilience needs.

Building Coalitions: The Power of Collective Local Voices

Engaging with complex utility regulatory proceedings requires resources and expertise that can challenge individual mountain towns. The Mountain Community Coalition, formed by the towns of Breckenridge, Silverthorne, Frisco, Dillon, Blue River, and Keystone, and Summit County government exemplifies the power of collaboration.

Pooling resources allowed the coalition to hire technical experts from Synapse Energy Economics and legal counsel from Kaplan Kirsch, enabling deep analysis and effective intervention in the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) process. The coalition’s unified voice amplified local priorities, including:

As Sarah Judkins , attorney at Kaplan Kirschand representative of the coalition, noted, “We were able to negotiate a downsize of the proposed LNG (liquid natural gas) supplemental supply facility, reducing project costs and environmental impact. We also secured commitments for an electric heat pump pilot program to help overcome affordability barriers.”

This collaborative approach not only strengthened local influence but also contributed to a comprehensive settlement agreement supported by most parties involved, demonstrating how diverse stakeholders can find common ground.

Understanding Regulatory Engagement: The Public Utilities Commission as a Climate Lever

Many mountain town residents and leaders may be unfamiliar with the pivotal role public utilities commissions play in energy planning and climate outcomes. Mike Foote , Founder and Principal Attorney at Foote Environmental Law & Policy, LLC, described PUCs as “some of the most powerful state agencies that nobody has heard of.”

In Colorado, investor-owned utilities like Xcel Energy must file plans—including electric resource plans, transportation electrification plans, and rate cases—with the PUC. The commission reviews these filings, considers input from intervening parties such as local governments and consumer groups, and ultimately decides on approvals and conditions.

Importantly, local governments can intervene as parties in these proceedings, enabling them to:

However, intervention requires staff capacity, legal expertise, and financial investment. The Mountain Community Coalition’s effort cost approximately $250,000, shared among members based on greenhouse gas emissions contributions. As Burley explained, “We would not have been able to participate and engage at the level that we did without Synapse and their expertise.”

Local governments interested in regulatory engagement must weigh these resource considerations and may find coalitions essential to pooling expertise and sharing costs.

Beyond Utilities: Other Regulatory Spaces for Climate Action

While the PUC is central to energy infrastructure decisions, mountain towns can also influence climate resilience through other regulatory forums.

As Foote noted, “Local governments have had an effective voice to make sure income-qualified and disproportionately impacted communities get their fair share of electrification infrastructure.”

Key Takeaways for Mountain Towns

Mountain towns across the West face intertwined challenges of climate change, energy transition, and infrastructure resilience. The Mountain Energy Project and the Mountain Community Coalition’s experience offer valuable lessons and actionable steps:

Mountain communities hold a unique position at the confluence of natural resources and economic opportunity. By collaborating with utilities and regulators, they can help shape an energy future that is cleaner, more resilient, and equitable. As Judkins reflected, “This is the future of gas planning as we try to move off natural gas and toward electrification. We want this to be a success story here that others can follow.”

The path forward requires commitment, expertise, and partnership—but as the Mountain Community Coalition shows, it is possible to turn complex regulatory processes into opportunities for local climate leadership and lasting impact.

For mountain towns seeking to get involved, the first step is to connect with peers in neighboring communities and regional climate coalitions, identify upcoming utility filings or regulatory actions, and consider how local voices and expertise can influence decisions that affect their shared environment and future.

31 Mountain Community Leaders Send Letter to Congress: “Protect Our Tax Incentives”

This week, we sent a letter to the House Ways & Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and key Congressional staff, signed by 31 mountain community leaders, urging them to protect the IRA tax incentives that have been so valuable to our communities. “We, the 31 undersigned local leaders from mountain and rural communities, write to urge you to preserve critical tax incentives that strengthen our communities’ economies and electrical grids, support local job creation, and provide financial relief to our residents.”

Thank you to everyone who joined this letter. We appreciate your leadership and MT2030 will continue to elevate our voices to elected officials until these critical tax incentives are protected.

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“Even small communities can lead the way:” How to drive local climate action through collaboration

When it comes to climate impact, sometimes it takes a village – or ten.

EcoAction Partners began with a simple but ambitious idea: create a centralized resource to help rural communities tackle sustainability challenges together. What started as a small nonprofit in Telluride has grown into a regional leader, coordinating efforts across three counties  and ten local governments to address greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energy, and implement climate action plans.

In a discussion at the Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Solutions Summit Summit, leaders at the forefront of climate action in Colorado’s San Miguel, Ouray, and San Juan Counties explored how rural mountain communities can band together to combat climate change, sharing personal stories, lessons learned, and practical advice.

“In 2007, sustainability was just becoming a buzzword,” explained Kim Wheels, Energy Specialist at EcoAction Partners, reflecting on the organization’s early days. “By pooling resources from local governments and our cooperative utility, we were able to launch a nonprofit to serve the entire region.” Wheels has dedicated over 16 years to designing and implementing impactful regional programs.

Today, EcoAction Partners drives initiatives like the Snuffles Energy Board, a coalition of ten local governments focused on implementing climate action strategies ranging from energy efficiency programs to groundbreaking microgrids.

Some of their wins include:

Kendra Held, Climate Action Coordinator for EcoAction Partners, emphasized the importance of collaboration, saying, “Our regional climate action plan would have been impossible without the Snuffles Energy Board. Together, we’ve leveraged funding and expertise to tackle challenges that no single community could handle alone.”

Of course, progress hasn’t come without its hurdles. The panelists shared candidly about the challenges they’ve faced, including:

Despite these obstacles, EcoAction Partners has persisted by leaning into collaboration and reframing challenges as opportunities. “Every community brings something unique to the table,” said Wheels. “Even the smallest towns can teach us something valuable about resilience and resourcefulness.”

Whether you’re part of a small town or a sprawling city, the panel offered actionable insights for anyone looking to launch or strengthen climate initiatives:

  1. Collaborate Across Borders: Climate change doesn’t stop at town lines. Regional collaboration amplifies impact and attracts funding.
  2. Start with Data: Greenhouse gas inventories provide a roadmap for prioritizing actions with the greatest impact.
  3. Engage Everyone: From local governments to utilities to nonprofits, diverse partnerships create a stronger foundation for success.
  4. Secure Funding: Donor engagement and grant writing are critical to turning plans into action.

The panelists also reminded attendees that climate work is as much about hope and storytelling as it is about science and policy. Jason Corzine, President & CEO of the Telluride Foundation,  shared how their organization has pivoted from funding individual projects to becoming a major backer of regional climate action, securing over $5.3 million for initiatives in 2023 alone.

“Climate work can feel overwhelming,” said Emma Gerona, Executive Director of EcoAction Partners, who leads efforts to tackle sustainability challenges across three counties. “But when you focus on small wins, celebrate progress, and keep the big picture in mind, it becomes a lot more manageable—and even fun.”

As Corzine put it, “This is about putting the action in climate action planning—and showing that even small communities can lead the way.”

See the whole seminar here:

Making environmentalism nonpartisan again: “It’s about common ground”

When it comes to making climate issues less polarizing, finding common ground based around shared values and approachable language can help move the conversation forward.

In a conversation at the Mountain Towns 2030 conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Benjamin (Benji) Backer , chairman and co-founder of the largest right-of-center environmental organization, the American Conservation Coalition (ACC), and Anna Robertson , co-founder of The Cool Down discussed strategies to bridge ideological gaps within local communities and make environmentalism a truly bipartisan cause.

Backer is a lifelong conservative who has dedicated his career to reclaiming environmentalism as a bipartisan cause, and Robertson is the co-founder of The Cool Down, which reaches over 30 million people monthly with ways to save money, live healthier, and help the planet.

Backer and Robertson kicked off the session by exploring the current polarization in climate discussions. They emphasized the universal need for clean air, water, and sustainable resources, framing environmentalism as a cause that should unite rather than divide.

“Environmentalism is not about choosing sides; it’s about choosing a healthier planet for everyone,” Robertson said, setting the tone for the session.

Backer added, “It’s not that conservatives don’t care about the environment—it’s about how the issue has been framed. When we focus on conservation and stewardship, we find common ground.”

Backer shared insights into the power of language in climate advocacy, noting that terms like “climate change” can be politically charged. Instead, focusing on “conservation” or “stewardship” resonates more with conservative communities.

“It’s not about convincing people to care—they already do,” he said, “It’s about using language that aligns with their values.”

Robertson highlighted the importance of local action. Through The Cool Down, she has worked to empower communities to adopt practical solutions, such as reducing energy consumption, adopting renewable energy, and implementing waste reduction programs.

Backer agreed – while federal policies matter, he said, it’s at the local level that change truly begins. “Communities that rely on natural resources for their economy have the most to gain from sustainable practices.”

Backer shared the success story of ACC, which has grown to 55,000 members by fostering dialogue across political lines. “Our movement is proof that conservative voices can play a leading role in environmental advocacy,” he said.

A key barrier to bipartisan climate action is misinformation. Backer shared his experiences in conservative communities, where skepticism often stems from distrust in proposed solutions rather than denial of environmental problems.

“Many people care deeply about their environment, but they’re wary of solutions that feel imposed or at odds with their way of life,” he said. Education and trust-building, he argued, are essential for progress.

Robertson added, “Vilifying others doesn’t help the cause. We need to focus on shared goals and make climate action accessible to everyone.”

The session also featured examples of successful initiatives that bridged political divides:

These stories underscored that impactful climate action often transcends political ideologies when framed around local benefits and shared values.

The session ended with a call to action for attendees to embrace inclusive advocacy and support initiatives that bring diverse voices to the table. Backer shared his vision for Nature Is Nonpartisan, an initiative aiming to build bipartisan coalitions that prioritize environmental stewardship.

“This isn’t about changing ideologies—it’s about finding common ground,” Backer said. “The environment is something we all share. It should be the ultimate unifier.”

<Watch the full session here >