Carbondale to lead letter of interest for state Clean Energy Impact Accelerator; parking and TDM among policy options

Carbondale staff, with support from CLEAR and Garfield Clean Energy (GCE), told the Board of Trustees they plan to submit a letter of interest (LOI) for the Colorado Energy Office’s Impact Accelerator program. The LOI is the first step in a two-phase application process intended to fund both policy development and project implementation.

Town staff and Lauren Servier of CLEAR said the LOI allows up to three policy options to be proposed. The options under consideration include creating a countywide Clean Energy Innovation Fund to support projects and rebates, transportation demand management (TDM) strategies focused on employers, and reform of off-street parking minimums. Staff said the county and several partners have expressed support; County commissioners indicated they would provide letters of support but did not want to be the lead applicant.

Trustees discussed whether Carbondale should focus on countywide policies that could scale across Garfield County (such as the innovation fund and TDM) or adopt a Carbondale-specific policy (such as an off-street parking reform) that would satisfy the LOI’s policy component. CLEAR and GCE staff said selecting multiple policy options in the LOI is acceptable and that more detailed stakeholder engagement would occur if Carbondale advances to the second phase.

No formal vote was required at the meeting; trustees authorized staff and CLEAR to continue developing the LOI and to submit the letter of interest on the town’s behalf, with the understanding trustees would review more detailed plans and commitments if the application advances.