A different kind of climate crisis - Aspen Daily News

A different kind of climate crisis | | aspendailynews.com

One of the Roaring Fork Valley’s leading climate organizations is scrambling for funds at a time when scientists say the climate crisis is growing more severe by the day.

The Community Office for Resource Efficiency, better known as CORE, finds itself in a position where it must actively fundraise after years of reaping proceeds from a groundbreaking program in Aspen and Pitkin County.

“They’re making their adjustments accordingly,” Pitkin County Commissioner chairwoman Francie Jacober said in a budget session Thursday. “It’s a big leap from getting their money from the city and the county to being an independent nonprofit. I don’t know if they’re going to be successful or not.”

CORE was created in 1994. It was boosted by the creation of the Renewable Energy Mitigation Program five years later. Through that program, home builders in Pitkin County and Aspen that exceeded an external energy budget through such uses as heat tape on roofs and gutters, outdoor pools and spas, and snowmelt systems embedded in driveways and sidewalks must pay a fee.

The program raised in excess of $1 million annually at its height. CORE’s first executive director, the late Randy Udall, and his team used the proceeds to fund rebates for consumers who added energy-efficient appliances and insulation to homes. Udall dubbed it a “Robin Hood” program where the rich home builders were taxed and people of lesser means benefitted.

Udall’s successors have expanded the scope of CORE’s programs, in part by providing grants to ensure large buildings are as energy efficient as possible through use of heat pumps and other means. One big project on CORE’s plate for 2024 is replacing the boiler that powers the snowmelt system at the Yellow Brick building, which houses nonprofit organizations in Aspen, with a heat pump. It will drastically increase efficiency and reduce emissions.

The Community Office for Resource Efficiency, better known as CORE, will assist the Yellow Brick building install a heat pump to power its snowmelt system, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

However, the Renewable Energy Mitigation Program funds are coming in at a slower rate as Aspen and Pitkin County have beefed up their energy efficiency requirements in building codes. Pitkin County’s mitigation program is expected to raise $700,000 in 2024 but that amount is expected to “decrease significantly” in the next three to five years, according to a budget memo from staff to the county commissioners. City funds are also drying up.

CORE is asking Pitkin County and Aspen for $850,000 each for 2024. It’s also counting on contract work for the city of Aspen to raise an additional $300,000. It aims to land $537,000 in grants and donations. Small contributions are also made by Basalt, Snowmass Village and Eagle County. The revenues create a budget of about $3 million. John Dougherty, the interim chief executive officer of CORE, told the commissioners the organization realizes it must diversify its revenues quickly if it is going to continue to be a player in the climate issue.

“We have historically looked at REMP for the defining way or the defining resource for what the investment is going to be in this region to tackle this issue,” Dougherty said. “What we’re really talking about is a $30 million per year problem and we have built our organization around a $2 million solution. CORE has got to move if we’re going to be a leader in this valley on these issues, beyond REMP and really bring in these additional resources.”

Dougherty was appointed interim CEO when former Dallas Blaney stepped down in August after one year on the job. Blaney said Thursday he couldn't discuss the reasons for his parting of ways with CORE.

“It just wasn’t a good fit,” he said.

CORE has traditionally attracted leaders and staff who are passionate about trying to save the world. Now the organization must also hustle for funds.

The county commissioners didn’t make any decisions in their work session Thursday but they indicated they are inclined to grant CORE’s $850,000 request. The funds would come from the anticipated REMP revenues in 2024 as well as a reserve of the mitigation program’s funds.

Commissioner Patti Clapper said the CORE officials have known for a few years now that the funding prospects for the organization were evolving. She said she supports using mitigation funds to meet CORE’s request, but the organization needs to realize that even those funds may dry up in the future.

“I support the $850,000 with a clear message to CORE that times are changing and we don’t know what the money is going to be,” she said.

Clapper said she would be opposed to using the county’s general expenses fund for a contribution to CORE.

Commissioner Steve Child said CORE’s mission is so important that he would support using county general funds to help the organization in future years when grants are lean.

Commissioner Greg Poschman said reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a common goal for most elected officials in the upper Roaring Fork Valley. “Supporting CORE to the fullest makes the most sense to me,” he said.

Jacober said she would support funding the $850,000 request “with a warning that it’s probably not going to happen again at this level. I think CORE is well aware that you-know-what has hit the fan in terms of (the Renewable Energy Mitigation Program).”

Commissioner Kelly McNicholas Kury said she sees evidence that the organization is making progress on funding.

“I do think CORE has risen to the challenge,” she said.

But McNicholas Kury also noted that Pitkin County has taken an aggressive approach to addressing climate issues on its own.

“There’s a policy question: Do we think we get a bigger bang for the buck when we spend the money or when CORE spends the money?” she asked.

The commissioners agreed that it makes sense for both organizations to seek funds and solutions.

On that front, Pitkin County scored an important victory on Wednesday. It was awarded a $3.02 million grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs through its Climate Resiliency Challenge. The funds will be used for electrification of county facilities. The county plans to undertake electrification of the library and the Health and Human Services building in 2024. Funds from the Renewable Energy Mitigation Program reserve will be used as a local match. Pitkin County must come up with 35% of the funding. The state grant covers 65%.

County Manager Jon Peacock said the county will continue to pursue funds to broaden its electrification campaign. In the big picture, about $24 million will be needed to electrify 10 county buildings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“There are a lot of projects. There are a lot of opportunities,” Peacock said.