I think it’s safe to say that we could all use a little positive news, especially in the context of climate change and its impacts. We are pleased to share that Eagle County’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions declined 11 percent in 2024, compared to the 2014 baseline year. This represents the first real decrease the County has seen outside of the anomalous dip in the COVID years. It’s a tremendous accomplishment and it’s something to celebrate!

Each year, Eagle County commissions CLEER (Clean Energy Economy for the Region) to compile an energy inventory report that provides a detailed accounting of energy use and the associated greenhouse gas emissions. In 2024, GHG totaled 1.195 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), down 16% from 2023. The 2024 decrease is largely due to the increase in renewables in Holy Cross Energy’s energy mix. Holy Cross Energy’s goal is to achieve 100% clean energy by 2030 and the utility is well on its way to reaching it. In 2024, 76% of the utility’s power supply came from clean and renewable energy: 61% wind, 11% solar, 3% hydro, and 1% biomass. In 2025, the utility expects to hit its goal of delivering 85% renewable energy.

While we are excelling at greening our electric power supply, we must focus on decarbonizing the other major GHG emissions contributors, the buildings and transportation sectors, in order to reach our climate action goal to reduce emissions 50% by 2030. Buildings accounted for 42% of total emissions. Electricity emissions from buildings actually decreased 66% since 2014, but natural gas emissions continue to rise, increasing 9% over the baseline. 

Our priority actions for the building sector focus on assisting communities in adopting and implementing the regional Net Zero Code Roadmap to align on sustainable building code updates through 2030. These code updates over the next few years mean that buildings will be built to higher efficiency standards, using less energy and fossil fuels. Additionally, Walking Mountains will continue partnering with local governments, utilities, and contractors to offer rebates that support energy savings, healthier and safer buildings, and lower emissions through efficiency and electrification upgrades. 

The transportation sector was another bright spot in 2024. Transportation emissions, which make up just over half of all emissions, declined 9% from the previous year. This decrease may be a result of several factors including increased public transit ridership in the valley, a nearly 64% increase in registered light-duty EVs in the county, and a 74% annual increase in the number of trips taken via Shift Bike. We are proud of these achievements and will continue to promote public transit, along with other forms of commuting including walking, biking and carpooling. We will also continue to work on EV adoption which includes building out more EV charging infrastructure.

Looking at the waste sector, solid waste emissions make up nearly 8% of our emissions in the county. Waste emissions increased 4% compared to 2023, yet nearly a quarter of our waste, 24%, is being diverted through recycling or composting. This is an amazing statistic, considering the statewide average diversion rate is 16%. Another positive step is that the amount of construction and demolition materials diverted from the landfill was 12,318 tons in 2024, up from 8,276 tons in 2023, a 49% increase. Since construction waste makes up such a large percentage of landfill waste, diversion efforts represent a considerable opportunity to reduce emissions. 

While it’s tough to tell the whole story through this set of numbers, we are buoyed by the incremental progress we are seeing. Our individual and collective actions are making a difference locally. We know where we need to cut emissions and we have prioritized actions that will lay the foundation to do just that. Here are a few examples of our initiatives:

• The Climate Action Collaborative (CAC) and CORE (Community Office for Resource Efficiency) are working with communities to modernize our building codes so that new buildings will be safer, more efficient, resilient, all-electric, and responsive to peak energy demand. 
• Together with local governments and Holy Cross Energy, Walking Mountains will continue offering rebates that help homes and businesses install energy-efficiency and electrification upgrades through our residential, business, and ReEnergize programs.
• Walking Mountains and the CAC will continue to promote and support local sustainable transportation options such as Shift Bike, Sole Power Plus and Core Transit. 
• To encourage greater adoption of EVs, Walking Mountains and CLEER are leading a free EV Charging Cohort to help multifamily tenants, HOAs, and property managers install EV charging infrastructure at their complexes. 
• Walking Mountains will continue to support and expand local waste diversion initiatives and will conduct outreach across Eagle County to raise awareness of its Construction and Demolition (C&D) Recycling Resource. 

Interested in learning more? Read our 2024 Impact Report and reach out to us to find out how to get involved in one of our working groups on Buildings & Energy Supply, Transportation, Materials Management, or Resiliency. We can’t do it alone and are always looking for new ideas, energy, and partnerships to increase our impact. Please join us! 

Kim Burke is the Director of Climate Strategy for the Climate Action Collaborative with Walking Mountains. The Climate Action Collaborative is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Eagle County 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2050.