Across Colorado, the effects of climate change are not abstract — they’re already reshaping our communities. In Summit County, drought and fire danger have forced difficult choices about water restrictions and emergency preparedness. In Pitkin County, ranchers along Emma Road negotiated for the last trickle of ditch water this summer while downstream neighbors simply ran dry. In Fort Collins, extreme heat forced our schools to close early to support the health and safety of our students, affecting thousands of working parents and our children’s education.
We serve as local elected officials in very different parts of the state. Still, we are united by one truth: our communities are on the frontlines of climate change, and the choices Colorado makes about how we heat our homes and businesses will determine whether our way of life endures. That is why the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) must adopt bold Clean Heat targets — at least a 50% reduction in emissions by 2035, and a long-term goal of a 100% cut by 2050.
The heating and cooling of buildings is one of the most difficult and persistent sources of greenhouse-gas emissions in Colorado. In Fort Collins, for example, heating buildings is one area where emissions continue to increase, despite the city’s successful reduction of pollution from other sources. In Pitkin County, buildings account for more than 40% of total emissions. And across mountain towns like those in Summit County, where winters are long and cold, we depend on reliable and affordable heating — but we also know the fuels we use today jeopardize the future of our snowpack, water supplies and outdoor economy…