The En-ROADS Climate Workshop is an interactive group experience that uses the En-ROADS climate solutions simulator—a free, easy-to-use, online tool built by the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative and the not-for-profit think tank, Climate Interactive. En-ROADS gives users the opportunity to test out different climate change solutions, en route to creating a future that limits global warming to well below 2°C from pre-industrial levels, in line with the Paris  Agreement. The experience delivers insights into policies and actions that can meet climate goals. To-date, it has been used by nearly 300,000 people in 130+ countries, including 6500+ top decision-makers in government, business, and civil society.

Location:  Grand Ballroom

Your town needs a new climate action plan. Maybe it’s never had one, or maybe it has one that’s out of date. But you don’t want your plan to end up sitting on a shelf. You want a plan that gets implemented! So let’s work through the basics of climate action planning for mountain
towns. We’ll seed the discussion with examples from the process that Big Sky, Montana used to develop its new climate action plan. Then we’ll dive into how to get implementation going right away. Mountain towns are different from conventional urban areas, so the climate planning process has to be different as well. Learn how to create a plan that works for towns like ours.

Location: Colorado Salon 1

A concise update about Copper’s Carbon Sequestration Study and details about how and why we have added biochar to the study going forward. We’ll also share details about this past summer’s Ski Conservation Summit where ski resort operators, local non-profit conservation orgs, local town & state government, Forest Service administrators, students, and academic experts gathered to share best practice restoration and conservation methods.

Location: Colorado Salon 2

Location: Sun Down

This session will delve into the critical nexus of climate action, effective communication, and transformative leadership. It will explore the proven power of hope and its potential to reshape the climate movement. Evidence-based strategies that foster public support for systemic climate action will be discussed. Attendees will learn evidence-based strategies that bridge the gap between hope, cognition, and systemic change. By delving into the psychology of hope and mastering the art of compelling storytelling, this workshop empowers individuals and organizations to become catalysts for positive change amidst the greatest crisis – and opportunity – of our time. Attendees will learn how to instill in others that a better future is not only possible – but within their collective agency to create it.

Location: Grand Ballroom

Garfield Clean Energy (GCE) is a collaboration of the county’s six municipalities, the county itself, the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, Holy Cross Energy and Colorado Mountain College. GCE is an innovative leader in advancing energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean transportation to protect the environment and build a strong, resilient and diverse economy. We’ll dive into how to build an effective collaboration by focusing on common goals and opportunities to improve residents’ lived experiences.

Location: Colorado Salon 1

In December 2021, the City of Louisville experienced the most destructive wildfire in state history, with over 545 homes and businesses lost or damaged in Louisville and over 1,100 countywide. The city is rebuilding and in addition to pre-disaster planning, is focused on climate resiliency, safety and decarbonization. This presentation will highlight the decarbonization planning process that the City is undergoing, lessons learned and technical applications for feasibility, planning, and execution of portfolio level decarbonization for fleet, buildings and operations for you to apply at your agency.

Location: Colorado Salon 2

Mountain towns have characteristics that set them apart from other tourism destinations. Often located at higher altitudes in harsh climates, many communities have developed a culture of heating outdoor spaces for public safety, maintenance, and ultimately luxury amenities. What is the price of heating outdoor spaces for convenience? City of Aspen and Town of Breckenridge will talk through their Renewable Energy Mitigation Programs designed to offset outdoor heating with clean energy through on-site mitigation or investment in community projects.

Location: Sun Up

Location: Sun Down

Workforce housing, affordable housing and available housing are all in short supply in mountain towns.  This critical issue affects the community at large and is something all mountain towns are dealing with.  Congressional legislation granted the USDA Forest Service authority to lease certain administrative sites to local communities for uses such as housing.  Come learn more about this new program, including one project in neighboring Summit County, CO.  Learn how this program might benefit your mountain town.

Location: Colorado Salon 1

Climate action planning processes have traditionally focused on large-scale and expensive solutions that are necessary for reducing climate pollution and averting worst-case scenarios of climate change. However, these planning processes have also traditionally failed to engage disproportionately impacted community members, who often bear the greatest burden from climate pollution and its impacts. In this session, participants will learn to understand and analyze impacts and opportunities for enhancing equity in climate action planning using geospatial analysis and community engagement techniques. A case study of the recently completed Climate Equity Plan for Summit County, Colorado, will highlight how a climate equity plan can generate unique solutions to support all community members in benefiting from climate action work.

Location: Colorado Salon 2

Greenhouse gas data and inventories have come a long way from bar graphs and pie charts.  See how your community can make data more engaging, illustrative, and powerful while also framing the data around critical science based targets. We’ll take a live look at some visualization options and demonstrate how communities can get started with crafting their own story of data and visuals.

Location: Sun Down

This educational field trip will walk you through the unique waste system that has been developed at Vail Mountain since the launch of Commitment to Zero in 2017. The sustainability team will share lessons learned, successes through community partnerships, and details about their innovative gondola freight waste hauling system, hard to recycle programs, and waste infrastructure to support large scale waste diversion within the community.

Details regarding meeting time and location:

Tour limited to ~25 participants – registration link: https://forms.office.com/r/gUf08K0p0b

Meet at the base of the Lionshead gondola at 3:45pm on 10/18. Tour will start at 4:00 p.m. Closed toe shoes required.

An overview of how EPA grants typically work and the BIL/IRA grant opportunities that are available for mountain communities.

Location: Grand Ballroom

What does it take to become a certified sustainable destination, and how does it drive business impact in addition to creating climate solutions to future proof the areas that we all live and love to recreate in? In this workshop, we’ll explore the path to sustainable certification; how that also effects our resorts and businesses; current insights into what today’s traveler is looking for when deciding where to vacation and recreate, and  how to best communicate that to an ever more impact-conscious traveler. 

Location: Colorado Salon 1

Beverage packaging is one of the most visible categories for consumers and channels. Much has been said in the past about sustainable packaging: recycling, use of renewables, the three R’s. However, we now know that the name of the game is Circularity.

Please join this session to learn about many tools towards more sustainable packaging that can be applied immediately and effectively. And not just as a concept, but through real business cases that already exist and where quick and undeniable impact has been made.

Location: Colorado Salon 2

With their economic weight and brand influence, ski resorts have a powerful lever that can’t be overlooked. How can resorts truly lead on climate – and what does meaningful climate action really look like?

Location: Sun Up

Implementing energy efficiency programs and transitioning our electrical grid to renewable energy will not on their own lead us to a world without any carbon emissions. We also need to rethink our relationship with products, materials, and food – how they are made and how they are used. Implementing a circular economy model reduces the carbon footprint of our industrial and agricultural sectors, optimizes economic efficiencies since waste is no longer a liability but a valuable input, and improves resiliency by leveraging the highest and best use of our finite resources. Steamboat Springs, CO is a leader in developing strategies to reduce the amount of waste residents, tourists, and businesses send to the landfill. Join this workshop to learn how they are collaborating with Colorado’s new Circular Economy Development Center and Recycle Colorado to create opportunities for systemic change. You are invited to share your perspective as we explore the potential for circularity in North America’s mountain towns.

Location: Grand Ballroom

With wildfires on the rise, there is an ever-growing need to treat and manage susceptible dry forests in the Western US. These treatments leave behind a significant amount of woody material that must be disposed of. Mt. Bachelor’s Wood Energy facility will create an avenue for disposal that is not only safe, but productive. By utilizing this locally-sourced wood to heat its base area facilities, Mt. Bachelor will drastically decrease reliance on fossil fuels, support the US Forest Service in wildfire prevention treatment, and improve air quality by decreasing the need for slash burns. In this session, Mt. Bachelor and Wisewood Energy will present an overview of the project and the multiple benefits that it offers, as well as actionable insight into garnering support and funding opportunities for Wood Energy projects.

Location: Colorado Salon 2

Coordinating housing, transit and land use planning is a significant and required aspect of achieving GHG reduction goals.  This workshop will dive into the role of Eagle County’s attempt to tie it all together – from a Town Manager’s perspective.

Location: Sun Up

Enhancing grid resiliency is a key component in transitioning our energy system in the face of climate change.  In this panel, three communities will outline their approaches to grid resilience to strengthen socioeconomic, climate, and infrastructure vulnerabilities.  While each regions’ focus is slightly different, they share the same goals of building community-facing resilience.

Location: Sun Down

Fleets in mountain communities operate in harsh conditions including cold temperatures, inclement weather, and steep grades that make vehicle electrification challenging. New technology, robust government incentives, and innovative utility assistance, however, are advancements that can help resorts, hospitality groups, and local governments overcome the barriers associated with fleet electrification in communities. This workshop will explore the opportunities and barriers for fleet electrification communities, including a case study on how electric utilities Xcel Energy and Holy Cross Energy are supporting Vail Resorts to build a fleet electrification roadmap for their iconic Epic Mountain Express shuttle service.

Location: Colorado Salon 1

As we transition to a carbon neutral economy, our electricity grid will be pushed to its limit. Winter time in Mountain Towns have unique challenges and opportunities on how we manage electricity, affordability, and balancing all of the needs (lifts, snowmaking, electric vehicles, heat pumps, etc). Please come share in our discussion about the entrepreneurial spirit of mountain communities and tackling one of the largest electricity draws: heat tape and snowmelt. This discussion will tackle how one invention is saving gigawatt hours, and how we can work together to maximize our grid.

Location: Colorado Salon 2

Building energy use is typically the largest GHG emissions contributor for towns and adopting above code requirements for buildings is identified as a strategy in many local government climate action plans. But where do you start when considering putting this strategy into action? At this workshop, the Town of Crested Butte will share how they worked through a community engagement process to develop and adopt above code requirements for the 2021 building code including solar and electric vehicle ready provisions, Zero Energy Ready home certifications, and why electrification offers the best opportunity to meet your climate action goals. Additionally, you will get an update on Colorado’s model electric and solar ready energy codes that went into effect July 1, 2023, and talk through what to expect when your city or county is required to adopt them in the next round of code updates.

Location: Sun Down

Hop on an e-bike and join the Town of Vail on a 90-minute guided tour to learn about some of the innovative mobility solutions Vail has implemented to reduce transportation related GHG emissions and improve the resident and guest experience. The tour will start at the Hythe and participants will ride e-bikes to Vail Village to check out the Shift Bike regional e-bike share program and discover how the E-Vail Courier program operated by 106 West has transformed loading and delivery operations in Vail’s pedestrian villages. From there, the group will ride down to the Public Works facility to explore the newly renovated bus barn including the towns electric buses and electric charging infrastructure in place. Space is limited, so please sign up in advance for this field trip.

Meeting time and location.This field trip will depart from the Hythe. Please meet outside the main entrance doors at 3:00 pm ready to ride. Please dress for weather, bring water and a helmet if you prefer to use your own.
This field trip is anticipated to last 90 minutes.

Registered attendees meet in the Hythe Lobby at 3:15 p.m.

Field trip begins at 3:45 p.m.

Registration is closed for this field trip.