County operations emissions rose in 2023; officials point to landfill and transit as main drivers

Sustainability division staff presented the 2023 greenhouse‑gas inventory for Summit County government operations and highlighted sector drivers and ongoing programs intended to reduce emissions.

Megan, a sustainability staff member, told the board the county’s inventory—compiled in ClearPath—showed a 44.2% increase in emissions from 2022 and a 12% increase from the 2016 baseline year the council uses for long‑term goals. She and colleagues said the rise reflects two principal shifts: higher measured emissions from the county’s transit fleet (High Valley Transit’s additional mileage and added buses) and accounting for landfill emissions that are large relative to other local governments that do not operate their own landfills.

Staff noted mitigation steps and recent developments: High Valley Transit received a $16,200,000 federal grant in early July to replace 10 older diesel buses with electric models; the Electron solar farm went online this year and is expected to move county facilities close to the county’s renewable electricity target. Waste‑diversion efforts include a Park City Community Foundation residential food‑waste pilot (about 250 households signed up) and Momentum Recycling hauling food waste to an anaerobic digester in North Salt Lake.

Presenters emphasized that some inventory changes—such as solar installations and future electric buses—may reduce emissions over time, but that inventories can lag operational changes. Staff also described library energy detective kits and community education efforts as programs to encourage behavior change.

Board members pressed for additional per‑capita and trend analysis and asked for follow‑up data on how transit electrification will affect net emissions.