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Regional sustainability contractor outlines audits, greenhouse-gas inventory, EV planning and waste-diversion grant
Summary
Julie Mock presented a quarterly regional sustainability update covering municipal facility energy/waste/water audits (75% of county buildings complete), a forthcoming county greenhouse‑gas inventory, an EV‑readiness plan, and a $2 million impact‑accelerator grant application focused on waste diversion.
Julie Mock, the regional sustainability contractor working with the city and Chaffee County, presented a quarterly update on local sustainability work and next steps.
Mock said municipal facility audits are well underway — "we've knocked out probably 75% of the county buildings" — with city audits just beginning. The audits examine energy, waste and water usage at county and city facilities to identify efficiency improvements, budget priorities and grant opportunities.
She congratulated the city and staff (Sarah) for earning Colorado Green Business Network bronze-level certification and said the state-run program can provide a ready framework for other local businesses and governments to pursue certification.
Mock described a planned countywide greenhouse‑gas inventory that will break emissions down by municipality, industry and season to better estimate tourism-related emissions (for example, travel tied to Monarch and rafting). She said a contractor selection is recommended but contracts are not finalized and the team expects to begin intensive data collection in the next month, aiming to complete the inventory by early spring.
On transportation, Mock said the county’s electric-vehicle readiness plan — funded by a county grant — will map charging infrastructure, identify gaps and consider funding options. She added that Drive Clean Colorado will conduct locally focused clean-mobility planning this fall, including listening sessions on micromobility, walking and local transit.
Mock said the county submitted a letter of intent for a Colorado Energy Office impact-accelerator grant (up to $2 million) that would focus on waste diversion. She highlighted that construction and demolition waste represents roughly 40% of landfill content and suggested the county could target clean wood, concrete and metal for diversion and processing; the county plans to pair this work with an existing recycling grant to expand landfill recycling and drop-off infrastructure.
Mock outlined community engagement plans with Poncha Springs and Buena Vista and proposed a coordinated public "Green Week" (Sept. 27–Oct. 3) to bundle e‑waste drives, a Salida green‑homes tour and stakeholder sessions. She also announced a new e‑newsletter and materials to promote reduced-cost energy audits and other programs.
In question-and-answer, Mock said gray-water reuse has not been a top priority in her scope but is a topic the group can explore; she confirmed cardboard and glass drop-off and improved landfill processing are part of waste‑infrastructure discussions.
The county and city staff said they will continue outreach and may bring program and funding requests back to elected bodies for budget or policy action.
