STATUS 

• Reducing green house gas emissions from buildings and vehicles are the goal measures for climate action, with a goal of reducing community green house gas emissions by 75,000 metric tons and county operating emissions by 500 metric tons each year.  As of the end of Q2 2023, community green house gas emissions have been reduced by 3,838 metric tons and county operating emissions have been reduced by 482 metric tons.

MEASURE
Increase the square footage of county buildings converted to all-electric

• In Q2 2023, Eagle County received notice of a grant award of $1.5M through a CDOT grant to electrify the bus barn at the MSC with a geothermal loop and ground source heat pumps. Two other buildings - the Exhibit Hall, and MSC Building A - are in process to replace aging gas heaters with high efficiency heat pumps.

• As of the end of 2022, 23,369  square feet of county buildings have been converted to all-electric

• During Q3, Eagle County's Facilities Director is taking a leadership role in county buildings electrification, and is actively replacing appliances at end of life with high efficiency electric, including space and water heaters. Evaluation of Maintenance Service Center buildings is underway for electrification and Eagle County Housing is actively pursuing electrification (no gas lines) for all new construction.

• Facilities team replaced a gas water heater in the Old Courthouse Building and discontinued gas service to the building. 

• At the Bus Barn in Gypsum, a faulty concrete floor was removed and is being replaced with an insulated slab with trough drains and hydronic tubing. 

• High efficiency heating options are being considered to eliminate the use of natural gas. 

• A buildings electrification plan is underway to document electrification projects and guide future building transitions from gas to clean electric. 

• Facilities team is beginning to plan mechanical system replacements to all-electric geothermal / ground source heat pumps at large operations centers in Eagle and Gypsum.

MEASURE
Increase the number of vehicle mile totals of county operated plug-in/electric vehicles relative to gas-diesel vehicles

• In Q2 2023, In progress, agreements for the install of major electrical supply at the Airport to power the incoming fleets of Electric Vehicle rental cars. This is a partnership between Eagle County Airport, Holy Cross Energy, and Hertz Car Rental. Finally, the county Fleet Department has received 7 plug-in hybrid EVs and is expecting several more.

• During Q4 2022, 4% of vehicle mile totals driving by county vehicles occurs in plug-in, electric vehicles

• During Q3 2022, Fleet received 3 new Chevy Bolts and is anticipating delivery of two Ford F-150 Lightning pickup trucks in Q4 and the Charge Ahead grant application was approved and construction is in progress for 4 additional EV charging stations at county locations, for public, fleet, and workplace.

• A charging plaza with 12 plugs was installed in partnership with the Eagle Library to provide charging for the county fleet and EV car-share, workplace charging for employees, and for county and library visitors. 

• A funding request was submitted to Colorado's Charge Ahead program for support to install EV stations at four additional county locations in Q3. Thirty new EVs and hybrid vehicles were ordered but not yet delivered due to supply chain issues.

•  Fleet Services is replacing light vehicles and trucks with plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles. 7 of the 156 vehicles have been replaced so far, with 8 additional vehicles to be replaced in 2023.

MEASURE
Increase the number of low-moderate income homes converted to all-electric

• In Qw 2023, NWCCOG Energy Programs is expanding the BEECH program. 23 of the 70 homes in Dotsero MHP are now completed, with gas lines capped, homes weatherized, and propane heating replaced with high efficiency all-electric heating and cooling and Energy Smart Colorado is working to complete a study in Q3 on the cost to electrify the different home types in the 280-home Miller Ranch neighborhood in Edwards. (condos, townhomes, duplexes and single family homes, all deed restricted) and Rader Engineering is completing a study of Riverview Apartments, and advising on how to reduce energy use and utility cost in 72 apartments through the addition of heat pumps.

• As of the end of 2022, 24 low-moderate income houses were converted to all-electric during the quarter period

• During Q3 2022, NWCCOG neared completion of new warehouse space in Gypsum, and is staffing the new operation to increase weatherization and electrification services for Eagle County residents. ECO Credits (Electrification Carbon Offsets) through Energy Smart Colorado will provide funding support for deed restricted homeowners to replace end of life gas heating systems with high efficiency electric. The first proposal received support and funding commitment from Vail Valley Jet Center and a Building Code Cohort including all municipal governments within Eagle County has met to discuss adoption of the most current energy code, IECC 2021. Amendments to the code are being discussed to encourage electrification and improved efficiency in new construction.

MEASURE
Continue to increase the number of energy smart building electric rebates

• As of end of Q2 2022, 63 buildings in the county were awarded energy smart building electric rebates

• Eagle County's community partners are aligned with Holy Cross Energy on building electrification incentives and rebates for existing buildings. To support electrification of new construction, a Code Cohort formed and provided building energy code recommendations for the county and town governments to consider for adoption in 2023.

MEASURE
Increase the number of plug-in, electric vehicle registrations relative to gas-diesel in the county

• During Q4, 106 total vehicle registrations in the county were for plug-in, electric vehicles

• During Q3, Walking Mountains convened the EV Infrastructure planning group to identify EV charging gaps in high need areas. Parking is limited and few if any residents at multifamily buildings are currently driving EVs. Adding EV infrastructure at these locations proves challenging.

• The Climate Action Collaborative developed a draft EV Infrastructure Plan to guide locations and types of new EV charging infrastructure within Eagle County to meet the growing needs. New EVs are now 10% of all new vehicles registered in Colorado.