County-wide emissions falling

Commissioners consider an energy budget and tighter building codes

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

On Jan. 17, Gunnison County Commissioners heard an update on the county government’s emissions status from Assistant County Manager for Operations and Sustainability John Cattles. The update used emissions information from 2020, and data show that county-wide emissions have decreased since 2015. To continue the trend and meet, or exceed, state goals, commissioners are considering a variety of energy and building code updates.

A brighter picture

The county has seen some progress in the last half decade; in-boundary emissions decreased 6% since 2015. Buildings represent the vast majority of those emissions; heating, cooling and operating buildings amounts to nearly 60% of total. Cattles said even though buildings represent the vast majority of emissions, they are more efficient, on a square foot basis, than they were in 2015.

Vehicles represent the next biggest piece of the pie. Filling county vehicles with diesel and regular gasoline accounts for 33%. Air travel remains small at 3%, a mere 1% increase from 2015.

Emissions from waste remained steady at 8%, from methane emitted from landfill and waste. These calculations include the county landfill, but also waste regenerated in the north end of the valley that is exported to Montrose County for disposal.

With the county primed to adopt 2021 International Code Council building codes this year, there could be room for improvement, Cattles said. Commissioners also signed onto a goal of a 50% emissions reduction by 2030, which can be achieved through improvements in different sectors: building, transportation, utilities and waste.

The county is aiming to reduce emissions in residential and commercial buildings by 20% and 25%, respectively. With just the 20% reduction in residential, the county would be considered average for similar communities in the climate zone.

The county is also aiming for an 8% drop in vehicle miles traveled, which would bring usage down to 2001-era mileage, adjusted per-capita. Goals also include a 50% increase in the use of electric vehicles, 80% reduction in utilities and 100% reduction in waste.

Two years ago, the county joined ICLEI — Local Governments for Sustainability, an international group of local governments formed to promote climate action. Cattles said the county’s goals are right on par with the goals that ICLEI outlined for it. If the county follows what’s been currently laid out, it will reach 37% by 2050, rather than the 60% the group outlined as possible — an area of growth where commissioners can consider energy and building code changes.

“Reinforcing two worlds”

The Planning Commission asked commissioners for guidance about tighter building codes and whether they’re interested in any policy or programmatic opportunities like an impact fee.

Larger builds out in the country tend to use more electricity than smaller ones within city limits.

County Commissioner Liz Smith asked if there was an opportunity to apply “more aggressive requirements” to those homes that are not occupied year-round.

Cathie Pagano, assistant county manager for community and economic development, said the county has considered allotting an average energy consumption, a “budget” of sorts, and then any generation beyond that will have fees attached or necessitate that that energy be generated on-site though solar or geothermal. Those fees would then be used to offset energy use in existing homes, especially for low income individuals. Commissioner Laura Puckett Daniels worried about the effect a fee may have on the housing market, potentially worsening the “tiered” perception that exists between valley residents and second homeowners.

County Manager Matthew Birniew said that the bifurcated market is already here, and a fee would not necessarily create those worlds, “it reinforces two worlds,” he said.

Instead of tacking fees onto extra usage, the county could consider a net-zero outcome, Smith said.

“The fee based system, the storytelling around it, can be interesting, and make it look like it's more effective for climate action than it really is,” she said. “And I don't want to fall into that trap."

Code Options

The county did an analysis on the cost of implementing energy codes, using guidance from the The International Energy Conservation Code, over 30 years, and found there was a “wide margin” of net financial benefit for users over that time period. The projections look at the up-front cost to building a home compared to the life cycle costs of operating now under less-efficient codes. High-efficiency codes tend to cost more to build, but can save users money in the long-run, Cattles said.

“That lifecycle cost versus first cost is going to be a continuing discussion,” Cattles said. “We can model that to a reasonable level, but we can never totally understand what energy costs would be in the future.”

The affordability conversation needs to include assumptions of renters, especially in a highinterest market for home-buying, Smith said. Renters shoulder the burden of utility costs, so landlords may not be initially incentivized to reduce energy costs. When the costs of energy are not tied to the building owner, utility prices can skyrocket for renters; a problem most persistent in the private rental sphere. Some renters are shouldering utilities that cost as much as their rent, Birnie said.

"This is a long term investment,” he said. “When we talk about our code, it does have a cost to it, yes. There is the cost calculated over time versus the upfront costs and almost every model shows that the increased cost up front pays itself back over time.” pen? They will shut down ranchers grazing livestock.

(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@gunnisontimes.com.)

Another thing is the fact that the Division of Wildlife (DOW) fights hard to stop shed hunting and allow privacy for the deer, elk and other animals while they are in delicate stages such as through pregnancy. Even the rutting season will be interrupted. They are so worried about human interaction with the wildlife, but wolves will be hunting them 24/7.

Elk herds are declining drastically already. The wolves do need to go into lower lands, such as towns and neighborhoods, in the winter — walking through our neighborhoods daily searching for prey. These aren’t dogs, they are wild animal predators. Don’t think about letting your pet out to run your property without you going with, as the wolves might attack, and you can’t defend it because your pet is worth less than the wolf.

Another thing is the rule that the wolves can’t be released within 60 miles of Tribal or federal lands. So where will they be released? Do the wolves know their boundaries? No. DOW will be working with local landowners to release them on their land, and only that landowner will know when this will happen.

It doesn’t matter if you are armed because there is a hefty fine, $100,000, prison time and possible loss of hunting privileges if your life is threatened by a wolf, and if you decide to take action to defend yourself. You can defend yourself against the humans that are threatening your life or others, but you can’t defend yourself against a wolf if it decides to attack you, someone else or your pets even. Only if you are given a special permit that will only be issued to certain landowners.

Maps show where the wolves will be released — between Hwy. 114 and Hwy. 149 (Hartman Rocks to Saguache to Lake City area) and don’t think they won’t roam up to Crested Butte. Wolves are known to roam 12 miles a day, an average of 50 miles immediately after release and up to 140 miles.

Western Colorado University held a meeting about the releases on Jan. 25. These meetings are happening all over Colorado and are held by the Parks and Wildlife Commission.

Cori L. Dobson Gunnison

Thankful to all

Editor:

I would like to thank the people of Gunnison, Denver and Montrose and all the towns I cannot name and would like them to know that I appreciate all the people that care. People have been so nice to my brother Garry and I.

I am so blessed. Garry was well liked and I am going to miss him so much. I cannot tell you how kind people are to Garry and I — all the people at Six Points, my nephews, Blane and Steven, sister Shannan, Sam in Montrose, my brother and all the cousins in Denver, Jani of Gunnison, the people of Mountain Home Health, the newspaper office and the American Legion.

I am so thankful to all. God bless you and thank you.

John Mazzuca Gunnison

Thanks for plowing Van Tuyl

Editor:

My knees would like to thank the city for plowing the Van Tuyl trail. Much appreciated! Keep up the good work.

Dana Brown Gunnison

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