About us

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Contact info

Address

High Country Conservation Center 737 Ten Mile Dr Frisco CO 80443 PO Box 4506 Frisco CO 80443

Phone

(970) 668-5703

Email

info@highcountryconservation.org

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Facing the Climate Change Crisis

No community is immune to the impacts of climate change, not even the high-elevation towns of Summit County. HC3’s Climate Action work brings together stakeholders from across the community to develop new programs and policies that fight climate change in Summit County, so we protect the beautiful mountain communities we all call home.

We also know that we won’t meet our shared climate action goals without participation from everyone in the community – no matter their income, housing status, or preferred language. That’s why, in 2023, we collaborated with stakeholders to create a Climate Equity Plan. Grounded in extensive community feedback, this plan outlines priority strategies for ensuring all Summit County residents benefit from climate action programs that improve quality of life while also decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Lea el Plan de Equidad Climática en español.

Summit Stage Buses

Climate Action Plan + Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

Adopted by the towns of Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco, Silverthorne and Summit County government, the Summit Community Climate Action Plan is the guiding document for our work. It outlines strategies for reducing local greenhouse gas emissions across four key sectors: Renewable Energy, Building Energy, Transportation, and Waste.

To track progress, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory is updated every three years. To learn more about local emissions, check out our interactive 2020 inventory.

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Our Initiatives

HC3 facilitates four working groups that provide guidance on implementing the strategies of the Climate Action Plan. Since 2018, we’ve collaborated with community partners on the following initiatives. If you’re interested in learning more about our working groups or any of these programs, let us know by emailing info@highcountryconservation.org.

Sustainable Building Codes

These new codes require new homes and buildings in Summit County to be built to stringent energy efficiency standards, improving home comfort and durability, and reducing utility costs.
More about Sustainable Building Codes

Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan

A widespread transition to electric vehicles (EV) is one of the most important strategies we have for reducing transportation emissions. This plan is designed to make driving or riding in an EV more convenient for Summit County residents and visitors.
More about Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan

Solarize Summit

Electricity use is the third largest source of our community’s emissions. Fortunately, the solution is easy – more renewable energy on our grid. Summit County’s primary utility provider, Xcel Energy, has a goal to generate 80% renewable electricity by 2030. But for county residents who want to produce their own clean electricity on their rooftops, the Solarize Summit offers cash incentives and a streamlined process.
More about Solarize Summit

Climate Change in Colorado

Average temperatures in Colorado have increased 2 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 30 years, with an additional 2 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit warming expected by 2050. Snow is melting 15 – 30 days earlier than in the late 1970s, cutting ski season short. Springtime snowpack levels have decreased at most monitoring sites since 1955, and most projections for the state’s river basins show decreasing annual runoff and less overall water supply.
 
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If worldwide greenhouse gas emissions are not curtailed soon, Summit County could experience increased drought, heat, fire danger, and significantly more winter precipitation falling as rain rather than snow. In 2010, Colorado hosted 12 million skier visits and contributed $2.2 billion in value to the Colorado economy.  A reduction in our winter visitors could drastically affect our local economy and lifestyle. Lastly, a growing population across the state and in Summit County will place increased pressure on water supplies and could create conflict between water-intensive industries like recreation, agriculture, and municipal use.