Larimer County study finds $114M–$321M in conservative benefits from Climate Smart investments on $45M cost

Larimer County commissioners on Jan. 12 heard an initial return‑on‑investment analysis of the Climate Smart Future Ready (CSFR) portfolio that placed conservative portfolio benefits at $114 million to $321 million against $45 million in costs.

Erin Fox, the CSU‑affiliated fellow who completed the eight‑week study, told the Board that the study converted measurable social, health and environmental outcomes into monetary values where possible and used conservative assumptions where direct measurements were unavailable. "The costs at the portfolio level were $45,000,000 but your benefits started at $114,000,000 and may have been as high as $321,000,000," Fox said.

Why it matters: the analysis aims to show whether county‑supported investments in wildfire mitigation, open‑lands preservation, updated building codes, EV charging and other projects deliver public value beyond direct project budgets. Commissioners said the figures could help make the case for continued investment to residents and partners.

Key findings and funding sources

- Portfolio totals: Fox reported $45 million in total program costs. She said volunteers and…