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!

Powering Resilience: How Innovative Energy Storage is Strengthening Mountain Towns and Ski Areas

At the Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Summit in Breckenridge, CO, energy experts explored how advanced battery and inertial-based systems are helping mountain communities and ski areas secure clean, reliable power amid growing climate uncertainty.

The Challenge in Mountain Communities: Climate Risks and Energy Vulnerabilities

Mountain towns are deeply connected to surrounding high-elevation landscapes that serve as headwaters for critical watersheds. But that same geography also makes them vulnerable. Wildfires, heavy snowstorms, and fallen trees increasingly disrupt power lines, threatening safety, economic activity, and daily life.

At the same time, rising electricity costs—driven largely by maintaining poles and wires—are putting pressure on residents and businesses.

Ski resorts and hospitality operators, which anchor many mountain economies, rely on consistent power to operate lifts, lodges, and infrastructure. As demand response events become more frequent, these businesses need flexible solutions that can stabilize energy use without compromising operations.

Building Resilience Through Advanced Energy Storage Solutions

Energy storage is emerging as a key solution.

Michael Thomas , founder of Cleanview and the newsletter Distilled, noted the dramatic drop in lithium-ion battery costs—from about $1,200 per kilowatt-hour in 2010 to roughly $100—unlocking new opportunities for local energy resilience and decarbonization.

Brent Hill, Managing Partner at Origin Ventures, emphasized the growing urgency. With AI and data center expansion driving demand, “we expect the next decade to look like an increase of 35 to 80 gigawatts of power,” he said.

Chris Klima of Torus introduced a hybrid system combining flywheel technology with lithium iron phosphate batteries. Designed for subtransmission and distribution systems, it is particularly well suited to mountain towns and ski areas.

Flywheels store energy kinetically by spinning a rotor in a vacuum, enabling rapid response and grid stabilization. “The flywheel is able to store energy  via an inertial-based storage device and provide clean power,” Klima explained. Combined with batteries, the system delivers both short bursts and longer-duration energy support.

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Michael Thomas, Chris Klima, and Brent Hill at the Mountain Towns 2030 Summit in Breckenridge

Real-World Applications: Mountain Towns and Ski Resorts Leading the Way

These technologies are already being deployed.

In Utah’s Wasatch Front, Torus has partnered with ski resorts and communities to integrate storage with solar and existing infrastructure. At Woodward Park City, systems are improving solar utilization and backup capacity. At Snowbird, the Torus system will support tram operations by smoothing power fluctuations and stabilizing the grid.

Energy storage also reduces costs by addressing peak demand charges. “There’s usually one event that’s 40 or 50 percent higher than any other event in the whole month,” Hill said. “Our job is to shave that off.”

By reducing peak loads, storage systems lower strain on infrastructure and help avoid costly upgrades that drive long-term rate increases.

Safety and Sustainability: Addressing Community Concerns

Concerns around battery safety and environmental impact remain, especially given high-profile battery fires and lithium mining challenges.

Torus has focused on safety through rigorous testing and built-in fire suppression systems. Klima emphasized the company’s approach: “We are pro-regulation… making sure the safety factors are there.”

On sustainability, the company is reducing reliance on lithium by increasing the role of flywheels, which are primarily made of recyclable steel. “Our flywheel is 95 percent recyclable… and it lasts for 25 years,” Klima noted.

Technical Advantages and Maintenance

Internal-based, or flywheel systems offer high efficiency—around 88 to 91 percent—and long service life with minimal maintenance. The rotor spins in a vacuum and is magnetically levitated, reducing friction and wear.

Torus typically retains ownership of deployed systems, managing them remotely with 24/7 monitoring. This model shifts costs from upfront capital investment to ongoing operational expenses, making adoption more accessible for communities and resorts.

Collaboration and Policy: Driving the Energy Transition Together

The panel emphasized that technology alone is not enough—collaboration and communication are essential.

Hill highlighted the importance of storytelling and public perception: “where policymakers can really help is… telling all the success stories versus the failures.”

Mountain communities, utilities, and private partners all have a role to play in advancing deployment. Strong partnerships can accelerate adoption, build trust, and align climate goals with economic resilience.

Key Takeaways for Mountain Towns

Join us this year at the Mountain Towns 2030 Summit in Sun Valley

Real talk from ski industry leaders on the winter that wasn’t: “We can take the profile of this issue to a whole new level

By Anna Robertson

“It was dire.”

That was how one outdoor industry leader categorized this winter at a frank conversation among leaders in the ski industry at the Progression conference, an event that connects investors, founders, and thought leaders to drive climate impact.

In a talk titled, “Where’s all the snow?” moderated by Mountain Towns 2030 Executive Director Chris Steinkamp , ski industry leaders talked about the real economic impacts of climate change on their businesses – while also discussing the opportunity to create change through innovative technologies, education, and athlete activation.

“We had a pretty significant impact on sales,” Backcountry CEO Kevin Lenau shared about the impact of this year’s lackluster snow season, citing a significant downturn in revenue.

Sophie Goldschmidt , CEO of the US Ski and Snowboard Team added that climate change is increasing costs for their organization as they pivoted to change venues or adjust to get athletes the time they need on snow. “Flexibility comes at a high cost and investment,” she explained. “On the training side and the competition side, it’s having a material impact on us.”

How this winter changed the ski industry

Lenau said the lack of snow has led Backcountry to diversify into other sports, but he believes the situation is “actually worse than it looks,” adding, “Even though you can still ski, it’s going to become more and more expensive as smaller resorts aren’t going to be able to pay for the snowmaking necessary to stay open. As the supply shrinks, you’re going to have less young people and less people coming into the sport. It’s dire.”

Raj Basi Raj B., VP of Sustainability for POWDR, which owns ski resorts like Copper Mountain and Snowbird as well as training facilities like Woodward and concessions in national parks, said that adapting to uncertain conditions was a logistical challenge.

Lack of snow this year forced them to “revisit planning structures and hiring structures to be  more dynamic.” They’ve also been looking to create more alternatives for guests who visit their mountains. “You can’t expect things to be the way they were 30 years ago,” he said. “Expectations have to change and we have to come to terms with that reality. There’s also a lot of opportunity for innovation.

Looking toward the future

One positive outcome Lenau described is increasing innovation in more sustainable materials and technology, as well as a stronger interest from consumers around sustainability in their purchasing decisions.

“Our consumer really cares about these problems… We are seeing search trends on sustainability, recycled, organic materials increasing,” he said, adding, “It’s great to see another revolution in material science that is really moving us forward.”

While technology can help address climate change, Goldschmidt says we have to move quickly.

“We still can slow down what’s happening and in some instances, I believe, reverse it, with new technologies,” she said. “But we don’t want to wait for that. We need to impact it right away. I think people have maybe been lulled into a false sense of security because the past few years we’ve had great snow years.”

If we don’t address the impacts of climate change, she warned, “in 10-20 years time, our ski season will be a lot shorter.”

Goldschmidt sees a huge opportunity to affect change tied to the Olympic Games coming to  Park City, Utah in 2034.

“Let’s use the next 8 years to educate about the issue we have, which is dire, but what we need to do to impact it,” she suggested. “There are things everybody in this country can be doing to make a difference, and we can take the profile of this issue to a whole new level.”

That might include mobilizing athletes and their platforms. “Our athletes authentically care about this, they’ve been pushing us to do more,” she said. “They are absolute key stakeholders to help us to market some of what we can do, but also some of the challenges. No one should be in the dark about the situation.”

Brad Chedister, Head of Project Orion from the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee called for collaboration and innovation.

“It is an existential threat, it is very serious. But let’s be a little more optimistic on the tech side,” he said. “We win together. We need to set up purposeful ecosystems that collaborate with each other.”

That’s the mission of Mountain Towns 2030, which helped seed the Mountain Collaborative, an effort among the four largest ski resorts to share solutions across their organizations.

Combining that collaboration with consumer awareness could be a key unlock, Basi added. “We have millions of people visiting our locations who are receptive to climate messaging every day.”

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.

Mountain towns are leading the way in climate advocacy

“Success in advocacy isn’t measured only by outcomes; it’s about showing up, building trust, and consistently pushing for what matters,” said Bonnie Hickey Director of Sustainability at Bridger Bowl, Montana, at the Mountain Towns 2030 Summit in Jackson, WY, where a distinguished panel of ski industry leaders convened to explore the critical role ski resorts play in advocating for climate policies.

Register now for the Mountain Towns 2030 Summit in Breckenridge, CO (Oct 7-8, 2025)  to take advantage of advance pricing, which ends on July 11.

Although ski resorts are often located in small mountain towns, they can have a big impact in influencing climate action at local, state and federal levels, even amidst challenges like political resistance and limited resources.

“We need to flex our unique sense of community as mountain towns,” said Mike Nathan, Sustainability Manager at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area in Colorado. “Our outsized influence can drive change far beyond our small populations.”

The panelists emphasized the power of collective action in driving meaningful climate policies in their mountain towns, including:

Clean Fuel Standards Act in New Mexico

Taos Ski Valley played a pivotal role in the passage of New Mexico’s Clean Fuel Standards Act (House Bill 41), signed into law in March 2024. The legislation sets aggressive carbon intensity reduction targets for transportation fuels—20% by 2030 and 30% by 2040—creating a credit-trading marketplace to support the transition to cleaner alternatives. Taos Ski Valley’s leadership, including participation on the state’s advisory committee, was instrumental in building cross-sector support. This victory ensures broader access to renewable diesel and biodiesel in the state, making New Mexico one of only four states to implement such a standard. Learn more.

Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act Endorsement in Montana Bridger Bowl helped unite more than 40 Montana ski areas in endorsing the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (EICDA), a federal policy proposal that would place a carbon fee on fossil fuels and return the revenue to households as dividends. This coordinated effort highlighted how smaller, independent resorts can still have an outsized influence on national climate policy conversations. While the EICDA has not yet been passed, efforts like these underscore the proactive stance many resorts are taking in pushing for climate solutions beyond their immediate operations. More on EICDA.

Local Advocacy and Engagement at Arapahoe Basin Mike Nathan, Sustainability Manager at Arapahoe Basin, emphasized the importance of grassroots engagement. Under his leadership, A-Basin became one of the first ski areas to operate on 100% renewable electricity and is on track to reach carbon neutrality by 2025. The resort actively engages employees and guests through initiatives like carpool incentives, on-site education, and their “Sustainability Sunday” video series. Arapahoe Basin is also STOKE Certified at the Sustainable level—the highest rating available—showcasing its commitment to both environmental action and community integration. Explore A-Basin’s sustainability journey.

The panelists candidly addressed the challenges they’ve encountered. From Montana’s anti-climate legislation to New Mexico’s limited industry influence, ski areas often face uphill battles in conservative states.

Dawn Boulware , Vice President of Social and Environmental Responsibility at Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico, the world’s first B Corporation-certified ski area, shared how financial considerations sometimes clash with environmental values, requiring open dialogue to align priorities.

The discussion underscored the importance of partnerships:

“Advocacy isn’t just about passing a bill—it’s about building relationships and showing gratitude to legislators for their support,” Boulware said.

Leaders shared advice for others on how to achieve success:

  1. Start Small, Think Big: Advocacy doesn’t have to be daunting. Partner with experienced organizations, take the first step, and build momentum.
  2. Tailor Your Message: Understand your audience and frame advocacy efforts in terms of their values—whether it’s water conservation, economic benefits, or community resilience.
  3. Celebrate Wins: From small victories like securing grant funding to larger policy achievements, every step forward strengthens the foundation for future efforts.

The panelists concluded with a call to action, urging ski areas to leverage their unique positions to lead climate advocacy. Whether by adopting ambitious sustainability goals, collaborating across industries, or engaging with guests and communities, ski resorts have the power to create ripple effects that extend beyond their slopes.

By fostering a culture of sustainability and persistence in advocacy, the ski industry is poised to be a powerful force in driving climate solutions that benefit not just mountain towns, but the planet as a whole.

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Register now for the Mountain Towns 2030 Summit in Breckenridge, CO (Oct 7-8, 2025)  to take advantage of advance pricing, which ends on July 11.

Full Video Session Here