Park City, UT
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100% Renewable Electricity Pledge
Latest in Series of Mountain Communities Making Renewable Electricity Transition
Contact:
Talya Tavor, I AM PRO SNOW Program Manager
talya.tavor@climatereality.com
(847) 997-0564
Linda Jager, Community Engagement Manager
linda.jager@parkcity.org
(435) 640-2625
The Climate Reality Project & Park City Announce 100% Renewable Electricity Pledge
Latest in Series of Mountain Communities Making Renewable Electricity Transition
Park City, Utah—Today, Park City, Utah became the latest in a series of mountain communities to commit to 100 percent renewable electricity. Surrounded by city council members, key members of the community, and partners, Park City Mayor Jack Thomas signed on to Climate Reality’s 100% Committed campaign. He pledged that the city’s electricity would come entirely from renewable sources by 2032. This announcement comes on the heels of a similar pledge from Salt Lake City, Utah and a recent commitment from Boulder, Colorado to transition to renewable electricity, showing that mountain communities are taking control of their energy future.
Park City’s announcement is grounded in a chilling reality. Fourteen of the 15 hottest years on record globally have occurred since the beginning of this century, and 2016 is currently on track to be added to that list. All around the world, winters are changing and ski seasons are getting shorter and less predictable. In fact, by the end of the century, it is estimated that only six of the 19 cities that have previously hosted the Winter Olympics could be cold enough to host again.
The good news is that the winter sports and mountain communities feeling the impacts of climate change are increasingly leading efforts to solve it. National businesses like Ski Butlers, which is headquartered in Park City, have made the commitment to switch to 100 percent renewable electricity, as well as international ski resorts, such as LAAX (in Switzerland). These commitments are yet another sign that business and government leaders at every level recognize the need to confront climate change and are embracing practical solutions to do so.
“The Climate Reality Project’s I AM PRO SNOW community is absolutely incredible, and we have been so proud to work with cities like Park City,” said Talya Tavor, I AM PRO SNOW Program Manager. “Park City recognizes that without snow, they cannot grow. At Climate Reality we bring together the passion to fight climate change with the passion to protect our mountain communities to make an unstoppable force for change. That’s why it is no surprise that mountain cities are leading the way on renewable electricity.”
“Park City’s commitment for 100% renewable electricity is driven by our community.” Said Mayor Jack Thomas of Park City. “The passion for the natural environment and our responsibility to take care of it is part of the fabric of what makes Park City a very special place to live. Park City can’t do it alone. I challenge other communities to across the nation join us in this goal.”
"I am proud to call Park City home,” said Bryn Carey, President and CEO of local ski concierge company, Ski Butlers, “both to me personally and my company, and I look forward to helping others commit to and attain a transition to 100% clean energy. Our future depends on it. What started as a far off distant goal, became a reality as local officials in Park City have committed to transition to 100% renewable electricity. This leadership shows that changing the world starts at a grassroots level by setting a big goal, then lining up the dominos to turn the goal into a reality. Park City's success gives a blueprint to other mountain towns, cities, states and countries across the globe to be a part of the climate change solution.”
About The Climate Reality Project
The Climate Reality Project is working to catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every level of society. Learn more at https://www.climaterealityproject.org.
About I AM PRO SNOW
With climate change threatening our planet and ways of life, I AM PRO SNOW, through The Climate Reality Project, launched the 100% Committed Campaign to work with mountain communities and winter sports businesses worldwide. By taking action and committing to run on 100-percent renewable electricity, we can make a difference for our communities. Learn more at https://www.climaterealityproject.org/pro-snow
About Park City Municipal Corporation
Park City Municipal Corporation is the government seat for Park City, Utah. A former silver mining town, Park City is now home to two world-class ski resorts and was the mountain host for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games. The town of 7,500 also hosts many special events, including the Sundance Film Festival and the final stage of the Tour of Utah.
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Biochar
Although wildfires are a healthy part of many ecosystems in the Intermountain West, the risk from catastrophic wildfires continues to increase in communities like Park City. Years of fire suppression, coupled with a hotter and drier climate and the continued development of subdivisions close to forestlands, presents the difficult challenge of trying to protect communities while also managing fire in a way that does not exacerbate climate change.
In 2019, Park City was among eight communities to recently receive a Leader in Community Resilience Program award from the National League of Cities (NLC). The award will support the city’s work in developing a biochar program to reduce excess forest fire fuels such as brush and wood debris, and return that carbon to Park City's soils.
Biochar is a charcoal-like material that can be used in carbon sequestration efforts. It is made by burning the excess forest fuels in an oxygen-free environment. Biochar is rich in carbon and in this case, will be collected from defensible spaces, that is the natural or landscaped area around a structure that is maintained and designed to reduce fire danger. Park City held a public demonstration in May 2019 to teach the public about how biochar is made, where it can be used on the landscape, and how it can reduce fire danger locally.
The forests surrounding most structures in the community contain a lot of poor-quality lumber that has the potential to be turned into biochar. This biochar, in turn, can be applied to farm fields and open spaces.