Fees from Pitkin County’s Renewable Energy Mitigation Program are likely to continue to decline because of recent changes to the building and energy codes.
Author Archives: Elizabeth Stewart-Severy
Elizabeth Stewart-Severy is a freelance journalist based in Snowmass Village. She grew up in Aspen and has worked as an editor at Aspen Journalism, reporter at Aspen Public Radio and an English and journalism teacher at Aspen High School.
Posted inEnvironment
Pitkin County targets building codes in effort to reduce emissions
Recent changes to Pitkin County’s land-use and energy codes hold new and renovated residential buildings to strict efficiency standards that officials say will significantly reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
Posted inEnvironment
COVID-19 brings extra hazards to wildfire season
Wildland firefighters across the country are working together to share information and best practices, mostly through a website called Wildland Fire Lessons Learned.
Posted inEnvironment
Forest Service plans for fire season, tourist season amid COVID-19 concerns
Every summer, the White River National Forest brings on more than 100 seasonal employees. Many of them live in tight quarters and bunkhouses, but not this year.
Posted inEnvironment
Environmental nonprofits adjust to life in a pandemic
Amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, people continue to turn to nature for solace, and local environmental organizations are adjusting to the crisis and working to prepare for what comes next.
Posted inEnvironment
Airport recommendations depend on pollution mitigation, cooperation from airlines
The vision committee is clear that it wants a cleaner airport, but there are real challenges to making that happen.
Posted inEnvironment
Electricity use drops nearly 10% as ski lifts close early
Since the ski lifts between Aspen and Vail stopped spinning on March 14, Holy Cross has seen demand for electricity fall 8% to 10%.
Posted inEnvironment
One year later: What the March 2019 avalanche cycle hints at on climate change
In studying what led to the March 2019 avalanche cycle, snow scientists are identifying some elements — such as warmer temperatures, wetter air and snow, and more-intense storms — that are not so unusual and are consistent with a warming climate.
Posted inEnvironment
Western Slope prepping for wolves
The Rocky Mountain Wolf Project identified several potential reintroduction sites, including the Flat Tops Wilderness north of Glenwood Springs; Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests; Weminuche Wilderness in San Juan National Forest; and Carson National Forest.
Posted inEnvironment
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies hosts Conservation International VP to discuss nature-based climate solutions
“I would say that the most important thing that we could do is ultimately stop deforestation, not just because of the amount of carbon they store, but also because of all of the important services that we get from forests.”