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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 Conservation program Agend a Item # TRUCKEE DONNER DistrictPublic Utility Staff Report To: Board of Directors From: Scott Terrell Date: February 16, 2007 Subject:TDPUD Aggressive Conservation Program Truckee Donner PUD has implemented a variety of conservation programs over the years which have provided much benefit to the Truckee Community. Below is a summary of those activities: O Pre-1992 Residential Energy Surveys O 1992+ Residential &Commercial Energy Surveys-over 500 surveys conducted O 1992+ High Bill Complaint Assistance-over 2,000 requests responded to 01994 Chamber Business& Energy Efficiency Partnership/Energy&Water Eff. Demo O 1996+ Ground Source Heat Pump Rebate Program- over 50 units installed in Truckee 01996 GSHP Bulk Purchase& Installation Program-25 units installed under this program O 1997+ Public Benefit Conservation Programs-over 500 rebates paid out 01997 Public Benefit Special Projects- Solar PV and GSHP Systems 02002 Public Agency Assistance Program-all Special Districts reed assistance O 2002+ Green Building Project Assistance w/Emphasis in Energy&Water Conservation O 2000+ Misc. Programs& Projects- Education w/Schools, Senior Center Energy Assist. The CA legislature is moving forward with an abundance of new legislation that is requiring utilities to place more and more emphasis on energy conservation. There are many different approaches utilities are taking now and in the future to encourage and assist their customers in capturing cost- effective conservation. Staff is going to present some different options for capturing energy conservation in Truckee. The presentation will focus primarily on the concept of a Conservation Power Plant. The CPP concept is not new and has been implemented at various levels by electric utilities throughout the country with a lot of success. SMUD's CPP program in the early 1990s under David Freeman is most notable with an aggressive energy audit program supplemented with cash rebates and 9% interest financing from "SMUD's bank". Staff is going to present an even more aggressive CPP program that has both pros and cons to its implementation. This presentation and report are only preliminary. Staff is looking for direction from the Board as to which approach may make the most sense for the District. Attached is a preliminary CPP report that will be further developed once the Board gives staff some feedback as to what direction the District should take in pursuing Truckee's abundant energy conservation resource. 0 Page 1 Developing an Aggressive Conservation Program Truckee Donner PUD Truckee, California TDPUD Conservation Programs & Activities Background • Pre- 1992 Residential Energy Surveys • 1992-96 Res/Comm Energy Surveys • Chamber Business & EE Partnership • 1996 GSHP Rebate & Bulk Purchase/Install • 1997+ TDPUD Public Benefit/Rebate Prog"s • 1998-2005 Public Agency Conservation • Green Building Education & Assistance Developing an Aggressive Conservation Program • Education/Marketing/Self-Financing • Financial Incentives/Rebates- Standard • Utility Rebates & Financing Program-SMUD • Conservation Power Plant with/without Investment Cost Recovery Conservation Power Plant :0 Non - Profit Utility Model • A Community Market Assessment • Conservation Potential- Tech & Economic • Creating Community Awareness & Buy-In • Program Logistics inc/Financing • Program Management & Training • Program Implementation & Auditing • Building the CPP/Data Base/Agg regation • Negotiating w/CPP Suppliers/Contractors • Measurement & Verification of the CPP • Program Evaluation & Reporting • Program Costs Conservation Power Plant :0 Non - Profit Utility Model • Utility Cost Recovery/Conservation Rate • Energy & Demand Impacts- Example • Program Feasibility • Potential Program Timeline • Benefits of CPP Program • Discussion on CPP, Feasibility & Direction Community Assessment Truckee, CA • Communities/Regional Demographics • # of Households- 12,,000+ • # & Type of Businesses- Small,, 1 ,,000 + • Community Interest Level • Community Economic Resources • Conservation Business Infrastructure • Conservation Labor Resources Truckee, CA Conservation Potential - Residential • Distributed Generation- Solar PV • Building Envelope Measures inc/Windows • Space Heating & Cooling & Devices • Energy-Efficient Water Heating/Hot Tub • Energy-Efficient Appliances • High Efficiency Lighting • Miscellaneous Electrical • Water Conservation Measures • New Construction/Passive Solar Design Truckee, CA Conservation Potential - Comm/Ind • Industrial Savings Potential • Distributed Generation- Solar PV • Building Envelope Measures inc/Windows • Space Heating & Cooling & Devices • Energy-Efficient Water Heating/Hot Tub inc/Solar • Energy-Efficient Appliances inc/Refrigeration • High Efficiency Lighting • High Efficiency Motors • Miscellaneous Electrical • New Construction/Passive Solar Design Creating Community Awareness,, Input & Buy-In • Market/Interest Survey • Marketing/Media Campaign • Community Education Presentations/Seminars/Workshops • TDPUD Newsletters/Bi l l Stuffers Conservation Power Plant Logistics • Assign Conservation Measures Kwh Impact • M a rketi ng/Presentation Materials • CPP Program Financing/Conservtn Rate Design • Select Energy Audit Tool/Report • Building Energy Audit/Commitment Forms • CPP Database Design/Management • Bulk Purchase Aggregation/Agreement • CPP Installation Agreements/Contracts • CPP Program Measurement & Verification Conservation Power Plant Program Mgmt. & Training • Program Management/Reporting* • Program Marketing/Media Campaign • Program Education/Presentations* • Energy Audit/Contract/Inspection Training* • Energy Audits/Contracting/Inspections • Database Design & Management • Conservation Measures Bulk Pricing Mgmt. * • Program Measurement & Verification • Program Evaluation/Reporting* CPP Program Implementation & Auditing • Marketing & Education � Energy Auditing & Contracting • Database Entry/Management • CPP Measures Aggregation/Bulk Pricing • Vendor/Contractor Selection • CPP Measures Installation • Measurement & Verification/Inspection • Program Evaluation & Reporting Building the CPP DataBase & Aggregation • Database Selection • Database Design • Database Management • Progress Reporting • Measures Aggregation • Bulk Pricing/Bidding/Negotiating • Vendor/Contractor Delivery/Install • Measurement & Verification Working with CPP CPP Measures Providers • Quantification of CPP Measures by Type • Aggregation/Repo rti ng of Measures • CPP Measures Specifications • CPP Measures Bidding & Review • CPP Measures Negotiations • Vendor/Contractor Selection • Vendor/Contractor Contracting w/Participants • Vendor/Contractor Delivery/Install Schedule • CPP Measures Verification/Inspection Measurement & Verification of the Conservation Power Plant • Energy Auditor Inspects Measures Install for Measures Type,, Quality & Quantity per Participant Contract & Specifications • Measure Performance of CPP Measures • Report Findings to Program Manager • Conservation Power Plant Expanded CPP Program Evaluation & Reporting • Participant Results Verified & Reported • Participant Results Aggregated w/CPP • Participants kwh/kw, Therm, other Energy Units Results Quantified- Use E3 Model • Conservation Power Impacts Identified • CPP Results Reported Quarterly/Annually • CPP Results Reported to CA Legislature Every 3 Years per AB2021 CPP Program Costs • Program Manager • Database Manager • Energy Auditor/Contract/Inspectors • Marketing & Education/Training Costs • CPP Plant Building Costs- Financing • Program Materials, Forms, etc. Utility Cost Recovery Conservation Power Rate • TDPUD Finances 100% C Measures Cost • Conservation Rate for Cost Recovery • Replaces Energy Use w/Conserved Energy • Contract for Conserved Energy Units • Ex: X Conservation Measures- Monthly Savings on Annual Basis- 400 kwhs • 400 kwhs Used at 12c vs 400 Saved at 9c • Customer Saves $ 12/Mo. & $ 144/Yr. Conservation Power Plant Cost Recovery- E3 Model CaIcs • CPP Program Package • Clothes Washer(Incre$) $ 180 • Refrigerator(ER) $900 • Elec. Water Heater ( ER) $750 • CFAU Duct Sealing $500 • Ceiling Insulation(RO-38) $ 1, 200 • Tota l Cost $3,530 • Annual Savings 2, 582 kwhs/$310 Conservation Power Plant Cost Recovery • CPP Program Package • Monthly Contracted Savings 200 kwhs • 200 @ Conventional Rate 12c = $24/month • 200 @ Conservation Rate 9c = $ 18/month • Monthly Savings = $6 • Annual Savings = $72 • CPP Program Cost Recovery $ 18* 12 = $216 • Rate Cost Recovery $3, 530/$216 = 16 Years CPP kwh/ kw Impact Examples NCPA E3 Power Impact Tool • # Program Measures Peak Red . Ann . Energy • 1,000 Clothes Washers 95kw 228,800 kwh • 1,000 Dishwashers 24kw 57, 600 kwh • 1, 500 Refrigerators 19kw 108,,800kwh • 10,000 Comp. Fluor. 300kw 1, 740,000kwh • 1,000 Hs Ceiling Ins. 148kw 58,400kwh • 1,000 Water Heat Wrap 16kw 60,800kwh • 1 ,000 Elec Wtr Htrs 239 kw 1,068,000kwh CPP kwh/kw Impact Examples NCPA E3 Power Impact Tool • # Program Measures Pk Red Ann Energy • 1 , 000 Prog , T-Stats 41kw 21 ,600kwh • 1 ,000 Duct Sealing 413kw 109,600kwh • 100 Ground-S HPs 560kw 77, 520kwh • 10,000 T- 12 to T-8 s 96kw 488,,000kwh • 100 50 HP Motors 95kw 523, 280kwh • Total Measures 2 , 046 Mw 4542 ,4Mwhs Truckee Community CPP Feasibility • Need to Determine Financial Feasibility of Project: Business Plan • Need to Determine Level of Interest/ Participation in Identified Region • Need to Determine Staffing Resources & Requirements Truckee Community Potential CPP Timeline • Determine Program Feasibility 6 Months • Fill Staffing Requirements/Training 3 Months • Develop/Implement Marketing Program 2 Months • Begin Marketing & Education 1-2 Months • Conduct Energy Audits & Contracting Months • Database Management & Reporting As Required • CPP Measures Aggregation & Bidding 1 Month • Finalize Bids/Contract & Begin Installations 2 Months • Build the Truckee Conservation Power Plant Why a Conservation Power Plant? Conservation is the : • Least Expensive • Economical • Cleanest • Most Abundant • Practical • Climate Improving • Job Creating • Power Resource Staff Conclusions • This Presentation is Preliminary: Need Direction • The CPP has "Significant' Potential • More Analysis Needed : Financial & Programmatic • E3 KEMA Model Generic-Need Cold Climate Data • May Need to Target Specific Measures • Targeting Higher Use Customers More Beneficial • Downside Issues Funded by Public Benefits? • Waiting for RMI Conservation Potential Study Proposed CPP Feedback • Is this Proposal on Track? • What Should We Do Different? • Revise Program & Proposal • Next Steps & Hopeful Timeline? Page 1 of 2 Peter Holzmeister From: Johnston, Bob [rajohnston @ ucdavis.edu] Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 11:12 AM To: Peter Holzmeister Cc: Stephen Hollabaugh; Terrell, Scott Subject: FW: Mountain Town News Peter, Pls see the first article here about climate change. Pis forward to Bd. members. I was very encouraged by what I heard on Wed. nite about transmission capacity and about power generation possibilities. Thanks, Bob Robert A. Johnston, Professor Emeritus Dept. of Env. Science& Policy University of California, Davis Home/Office Ph: 530 582-0700 Cellphone: 530 559-0032 Mail: 15299 Wolfgang Rd. Truckee, CA 96161 www.des.ucdavis.edu/faculty/Johnston/index.htm From: Tony Lashbrook [mailto:TLashbrook@townoftruckee.com] Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 8:03 AM To: bgreen38@sbcglobal.net; Carolyn Wallace Dee; Josh Susman; Judy Price; Mark Brown; Richard Anderson; Johnston, Bob; Cadie Olsen; cole@gravystudios.com; Donna Chase; jell@becx.net; Nikki Riley Cc: John McLaughlin; Alex Terrazas; Dan Wilkins Subject: FW: Mountain Town News Fyi. tony From: alien best [mailto:bestallen@earthlink.net] Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2007 11:39 AM To: Best, Allen Subject: Mountain Town News Hi everybody, 2/16/2007 Page 2 of 2 Despite this winter's more-or-less normal winter, the public shift in thinking regarding climate change is large and profound in its consequences. In this issue, some of this is sorted out. More of this issue as it applies to mountain resort valleys of the West addressed in the next issue of Mountain Town News. As always, I appreciate your comments. Best, Allen Mountain Town News 303.463.8630 bestallen@earthlink.net 2/16/2007 .,,.,H. 0UNTA1N Tom _A.,V., EWS News in brief& deep in resort valleys of the West February 15, 2007 Huge crowd shows up In addition,warmer temperatures could delay snow accumulations by at least four in Park City to hear wee Computermodels developed so far are uncertain about how global warming will climate change report change precipitation patterns. Turnout demonstrates support "We can't say with any high degree of certainty what precipitation will do in the for changes, but what changes? future,"says Brian Lazar,a hydrologist with PARK CITY,Utah—Even when Park Stratus Consulting,a firm from Boulder, City was planning to host the Olympics,the Colo.The company conducted the research. town never had 1,200 people show up for a "That's particularly true in mountainous community meeting.But that's how many regions,because of the interactions of the turned out during January to hear scientific climate and the topography,"he explained. projections about how rising temperatures "Temperatures we can predict with much may affect Park City during the 21" century. This was several weeks before the new International Panel on Scientists can't say with any high degree Climate Change report was issued of certainty what precipitation will do in on Feb. 2. the future. Temperatures, they can. Global warming,said the scientists, will change Park City plenty.Easier to predict are temperatures.They will rise,of more confidence. course. But rising temperatures will likely Mid-range projections see temperatures mean less snow. in Park City rising 10 degrees,or about the The base areas for the ski area at Park same temperature as Salt Lake City is now. City are at about 6,900 feet in elevation. These warmer temperature could shrink the Given the maximum continued emissions snow depths by 15 to 65 percent compared to now projected,the snowline of the ski historical averages. mountains could move up to 9,500 feet. Park Similar warming is also projected for City Mountain Resort's top elevation is Aspen,although the comparison there is 10,400 feet. The day the gas went out in Crested Butte • page 4 Inside The drought of 30 years ago remembered • page 8 MTN: Real estate sizzlers & real estate breathers • page 14 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 usually made to Amarillo,Texas—a more gathered in early January at a conference in attention-getting comparison, said Dan Mammoth Lakes,Calif. Mr. Hansen has been Richardson,director of Aspen's Canary loud in his warnings about global warming Initiative(who is resigning as of today). since the 1980s. However,Amarillo and Salt Lake have Mr. Hansen said that improved energy comparable temperatures. efficiency in both buildings and vehicles is Models also see warmer nighttime critical to slowing the increase in greenhouse temperatures,both winter and summer,but gases. Ultimately,creation of power plants warmer temperatures during summer days. and automobiles that emit zero carbon should Just how much heating occurs depends at be a major component,he said. least partly on how much greenhouse gases In Park City,the idea for the study was continue to accumulate.Concentrations of motivated by the example of Aspen,where carbon dioxide,the most common the city government two years ago launched greenhouse gas,were at 280 parts per million a program called the Canary Initiative.The in the atmosphere at the start of the 201h idea is that mountains,like the polar regions, century.They now stand at 382 parts per are likely to most dramatically feel the million. Some scientists think the Earth can effects of global warming,similar to stand only 450 to 550 parts per million before substantial .,, changes occur, which could � ��`; happen by mid- _ F century. The problem, -" say scientists, is � ! that once in the atmosphere, t greenhouse gases A take hundreds of '� •� years to dissipate. Some projections see carbon Like many ski-based resort areas, Park City is beginning to probe the dioxide levels consequences of global warming.Photo/Park City Mountain Resort climbing to 950 parts per million by the century's end. sensitive canaries taken into coal mines to While climates are constantly changing, warn miners of bad gas. the recently released ICPP asserted that,with a confidence of 90 percent,most of the ut as much as the science,which current warming has been forced by man- Bparallels other reports,the story at caused greenhouse gases. Park City is the voluminous public response. "If I were giving out steak dinners,I One of the nation's most prominent wouldn't have gotten 100 people there,"says climate-change scientists,James Myles Rademan,the public affairs director Hansen,from the National Aeronautics and for Park City's municipal government. Space Administration, warns that substantial A local radio station manager took the changes are needed in the next 5 to 10 years. idea of a study to Park City Mountain Resort, "I think there is still time to deal with which agreed to pay most of the$60,000 global warming,but we need to act soon," cost. Other ski areas—Deer Valley and The Mr. Hansen told scientists and meteorologists Canyons—chipped in.The radio station then 2 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 bombarded listeners with invitations to the look at that carefully." meeting. It was held,said Mr. Rademan,in A sustainability team formed by Park the biggest auditorium in Park City. City's government two years has been Park City had already been doing many studying changes around the county. Mr. things in response to concerns about global Rademan,a member of that team, warming.Two years ago it began buying acknowledges a good many ideas are likely wind-generated electricity for municipal buildings,encouraging "We are not trying to turn this into a community members to do likewise, theology, and when you go into those and staging a competition with meetings, they often turn into revival another Utah town,Moab.Last year, meetings." it began adding a biodiesel Myles Rademan component to its municipal vehicles. Director of public affairs It has adopted some energy Municipality of Park City efficiency requirements. to be discussed: reducing lot sizes in order to But the massive turnout at the meeting reduce sprawl,and also reducing house sizes. provides incontrovertible proof of Park City may consider a program the rapid change in public perceptions.The launched in Pitkin County in 2000,in which global warming stuff is no longer fringe in owners of large,energy-using homes in both most parts of the country,but especially not Aspen and unincorporated Pitkin County in the blue islands of the West. People are must pay into a public fund if their homes ready for action.The task for public officials exceed a specified energy budget through use in Park City and many other places is of such things as heated driveways and figuring out exactly how to ride this new outdoor swimming pools. If the owners do wave of enthusiasm. not want to conserve energy,they have the "Semi-draconian measures will get a option of building alternative energy sources, better hearing now then they would have a such as solar collectors. Or,they can pay an few years ago," says Mr. Rademan. in-lieu fee.That program is generating Just what those changes will be, $800,000 to$1 million annually now,and it however,is unclear. "It's one thing to get is used for such things as energy retrofits of 1,100 to 1,200 people to a meeting,but to Aspen's recreational center. translate that into legislative action is another But in his report to the Park City matter,"says Mr. Rademan."We're trying to Council,Mr.Rademan urges balance and also taking a long view. He recalls the enthusiasm for solar energy in the 1970s at M a 00"U" 7 t' Crested Butte that,after awhile sputtered. [ - And,at the end of the day,he says,Park City will remain a resort catering to wealthy Edited &published by Allen Best people. "We are not trying to turn this into a theology,and when you go into those Subscriptions: $45/year. Checks only, meetings,they often turn into revival made out to Allen Best meetings,"he says."You have to be careful 5705 Yukon St. about that." Arvada CO 80002 And one final note from Mr. Rademan is 303.463.8630 this: What is perceived as practical is likely bestallen(f;earthlink.net to change,perhaps rapidly,especially if the federal government adopts policies that Classified&display ad space available restrict carbon. 3 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 It's Thursday in January. night,about three days without heat in some homes. 1,300 college kids have At Mt. Crested Butte,which is located at the base of the ski slopes,one of the just arrived. And your challenges was in the second homes whose heating source is gone. owners had not retained property managers and who had not left a key with a neighbor. What you going to do? CRESTED BUTTE,Colo.—The first Down the hill two miles at Crested people who drove by the ruptured pipeline of Butte, 1,300 college students had natural gas south of Crested Butte on doubled the population of the former coal- Thursday,Jan.4,saw the dirt spewing into mining town.Undeterred,they whooped it up the air and assumed a car had tumbled over on Elk Avenue. Lights were on,music was the embankment.In fact,it was a natural gas playing,and some restaurants remained open, pipeline, which had ruptured with no despite the absence of gas for heating and for discernible cause, venting with great pressure for the better part of an hour.A flame or a spark might have caused an explosion. ` f By luck,nothing calamitous happened. y Also by luck,Crested Butte was unseasonable,, '` s y ._-- warm,allowing the town managers of Crested Butte ems, and Mt.Crested Butte to work with their local restaurateurs,hoteliers, and property managers to avert any more chilling �� .. stories. It also taught them that,whatever their best- Lucky for both Mt. Crested Butte, above, and Crested Butte, laid plans,more planning temperatures were not as chilly as in this scene above taken in was needed for just such January 2003 when the natural gas line ruptured.Town managers say the experience will behoove them to tidy up their emergency exigencies. preparedness plans.Photo/Allen Best For Joe Fitzpatric, cooking,instead using camping stoves.It town manager at Mt.Crested Butte,the was,says Susan Parker,Crested Butte's town response was a mixed bag. `There were some frozen pipes,but not as many as might have manager,"very surrealistic." been the case.The day the gas went out was Ms. Parker has strong disaster training. f Previously,she had worked in Reno,Nev.,as fairly warm,and the next day we had 5 or 6 inches of snow and so it stayed fairly warm. director of emergency communications, By that evening,a Friday,we had gas back, coordinating with 13 different law and then it was a matter of relighting each enforcement and other emergency agencies in the region. During her time in Reno,the home individually." downtown area was flooded. As this was being done,it started getting d more severely cold,and by the time that gas After the gas line ruptured, she immediately designated town hall as the furnaces in all homes had been relit,as is command center and assumed the role of necessary after a gas outage,it was Sunday 4 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 public information officer.The hours were needed to be contacted outside of business long, until midnight,during the first two hours. days.The gas utility,Atmos Energy,turned out 60 workers,drawing employees from as Crested Butte base-area far away as Kansas. Many of the 2,200 gas project postponed a year customers reverted to their wood-burning stoves.Others got portable electric and To avoid glutting the market propane heaters at Gunnison,30 miles away, CRESTED BUTTE,Colo.—Developers and at Montrose some 90 miles away. Still, of a 24-unit condominium project at the base by Saturday evening,two days into the of the Crested Butte ski area have postponed outage,some tempers frayed when people the start of construction for a year. Garret saw neighboring houses reconnected but not Simon,vice president of development for their own. Solstice Partners,told the Crested Butte News that the project is being postponed so What were the lessons?For Mr. as to not flood the market with new product. Fitzpatric,the incident reinforced Crested Butte Mountain Resort is launching a the need to avoid redundancy of street names. 95-unit project in the same area. Both With the Maroon Bells just over the range projects have comparable locations,units, and a Paradise Bowl closer by,the two and pricing."The way we look at it,we both communities are awash in Bells and have a large amount of real estate to develop, Paradises.The new naming regime to avoid and it's critical to develop a relationship so redundancies was begun two years ago. we don't flood the market."The development Also,he says,Mt.Crested Butte would group also includes Gerry Engle and Lance have been better off with a prioritized list: Badger,who were key figures in what buildings need to get back on first, development of Cordillera.The development where do the elderly live and so forth. team also has a project at Steamboat Springs, "We definitely found out some of our and Engle is also the lead developer at limitations," says Ms.Parker,in Crested Granby Ranch. Butte."Just as in Florida,prior to hurricane season,stocks up on food supplies,a small Crested Butte postpones mountain town should prepare for winter." This is more challenging,she said, when limits on exterior heating there are a large Plans to adopt new energy code number of second- CRESTED BUTTE,Colo.—Town "We definitely home owners and a officials in Crested Butte have postponed any found some of population in decisions on whether and how to regulate transition,as most outdoor heating, including snowmelt our limitations." ski communities g Susan Parker systems.Alan Bernholtz,the mayor,said that tend to be. in the absence of agreement about how to Town manager She plans to regulate outdoor use of heat,he didn't want Crested Butte initiate a winter to drag down the town's broader efforts to emergency curb energy use. preparedness public "We went from doing nothing,to outreach, including a website database for (considering)banning outdoor heating. Now second-home owners to list their emergency we're coming in the middle to accomplish contacts. Similar to plans at Mt. Crested our goal of reducing carbon emissions,"Mr. Butte,she plans a database with contact Bernholtz said,according to a report in The information for vulnerable populations,i.e. Crested Butte News. the elderly,physically challenged,and Crested Butte had been looking at Pitkin medically challenged.Also needed are County's Renewable Energy Mitigation emergency phone numbers for those who 5 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 Program, which allows home-owners an together,and boy,what a lot of sheets they energy budget,and if they exceed that have to split. budget,they can pay in-lieu of fees for such The Wall Street Journal reports the two things as heated driveways,heated outdoor are now peacefully dividing their fortune, swimming pools.The money is then diverted which is estimated by Forbes at$1.5 billion to energy efficiency and alternative energy to$2 billion. Included in that estate is the projects elsewhere in the broader Aspen Yellowstone Club,the pricey members-only community. ski and golf community near the Big Sky ski But there are doubts whether Crested area of Montana. Among the members: Bill Butte has a large enough bureaucracy to Gates.Also included are vast tracts of land in administer such a program. Also, some on Idaho between Boise and McCall,a fast- the Crested Butte Town Council dislike in- developing resort area. lieu fees and wanted to draw the line on what "Rather than fighting over every piece of they considered extravagant energy use. silver,the Blixseths decided to keep what's Proposed was a ban on snowmelt systems for most important to each of them and split the residential driveways,sidewalks and roofs, difference,"reports the Journal. "Life's too although they would be allowed on public short,they figured,and why give the lawyers thoroughfares if powered by alternative all the money if you can work it out energy sources. At a January meeting,Mr. yourselves." Bernholtz said private outdoor heating tends She,at least for now,gets the dogs,a to be convenience,rather than an issue of golden retriever and a Shi Tzu. She also gets public safety. the couple's house at Palm Springs,which But local resident Josephine Nelson said includes a 19-hole golf course,eight cottages climbing on roofs to shovel snow is not safe. and casitas, all of this with an estimated sales And instead of a snowmelt system,people price of$200 million—the most expensive might use chemicals. And what about the home in the country,if it were put on the costs to elderly or disabled residents who market. cannot physically remove snow from roofs He gets the cabins at the Yellowstone themselves nor afford to hire others to do so? Club,a condo in Boise,a yacht and several Mr. Bernholtz believes that the old- of the businesses.They will continue to share fashioned snow removal method has worked three private jets and the Yellowstone Club. for more than a century."I don't feel like Of course,adds the Journal,the deal we're backing people into a corner by not could go bad."This is not to say that the allowing them to heat their roofs,"he said in whole thing won't blow up in court,"Ms. January. Blixseth tells the newspaper. "But unless one In the new energy code discussed in of us does something out of character,I don't January,one provision would have required think it will." that any building of more than 20,000 square feet meet LEED(Leadership in Energy and Lance Armstrong seems Design)certification,which requires water and energy conservation.Another would to have calendar conflict have increased mandatory insulation for new Floyd Landis racing in Leadville roofs. LEADVILLE,Colo.—Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong had Blixseths split sheets, but been announced as a competitor at next not the Yellowstone Club summer's Leadville Trial 100 mountain bike race.That was before the winner of this past Assets estimated at $1.5-$2 billion year's Tour de France,Floyd Landis, BIG SKY,Mont.—Tim and Edra announced that he,too,would race at Blixseth are getting divorced after 25 years Leadville. 6 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 Now,Lance Armstrong had his own has drawn a flood of immigrants from Latin announcement: He wasn't coming after all.A American. scheduling conflict,explained the Leadville Carbondale figured prominently in an Chronicle. hour-long television program about illegal However,whether Mr.Landis will immigration that was broadcast in late actually compete remains to be seen.A December.The program,which was narrated urinalysis at the Tour de France showed by Tom Brokaw,took viewers into a four- presence of an illegal stimulant. He is bedroom home occupied by 18 people. appealing the results. Because the Leadville At one town meeting last July, 12 event carries a sanction by the NORBA Carbondale residents voiced their frustrations (National Off-Road Bicycling Association), about parking,trash,and noise in he would not be able to compete should he be neighborhoods where so-called"man-camp" suspended. houses have an unusual number of people in one dwelling unit,or where families occupy Even at birth mountain single bedrooms in houses. Footage about this aspect of the Roaring Fork Valley's large towns have more boys population of foreign immigrants did not Odds difficult even in the cradle make the final cut. STEAMBOAT SPRINGS,Colo.—Even The newspaper says a parking permit at birth,males outnumber females in program in a few neighborhoods seems to Steamboat Springs.There,the Steamboat have had some success. Pilot&Today reports a record crop last year of young-ones,430 altogether,at Yampa Whistler favors snow tire Valley Medical Center. Some 56 percent mandate for key highway were males,and the most favored name was Ethan. For girls,Grace was favored,but Highway closed for hours Haley was just as common,if in five variant WHISTLER,B.C.—Both business spellings. Parents must agree with Mark leaders and the Royal Canadian Mounted Twain,who complained that spelling Police want to see snow tires required on the something the same was as tiresome as highway from Vancouver to Whistler.The having all clothes alike."Variety is highway is sometimes closed for hours by pleasing,"he said. collisions that could be avoided if vehicles were required to use snow tires or chains Carbondale considering during winter months,says Scott Bowden,a corporal with the Mounted Police. caps on `man camps' Other mountainous areas have the snow- Response to migrant populations tire rule,reports Whistler's Pique CARBONDALE,Colo.—Town trustees newsmagazine,but apply it in different ways. in Carbondale are considering a limit on how Parks Canada officially has a many people can live in one house or requirement of snow tires or chains in Banff, condominium.The town's newspaper,the Jasper and other national parks in the Valley Journal, says that trustees and other Canadian Rockies,but it's actually more of town officials have discussed the touchy an advisory. "If people get into trouble,then subject for several years,but have resisted they have no recourse against us,"one Parks creating"bedroom police."They are also Canada official explained. uncertain how to define a family. On the Coquihalla Highway,near The proposed regulation is a response to Kamloops,B.C.,snow tires are required,but a burgeoning job market of the last 20 years cars are rarely checked,simply because it in Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley that takes so much staffing to do so. Motorists are 7 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 almost never fined except in the event of an equipment. It survived the winter almost accident. nicely. But few ski areas had snowmaking. After that drought winter,many ski areas Drought of 1976- 77 was a invested in snowmaking. Skiing was becoming too big of a business to abide the catalyst across the West infidelities of weather. 30 years ago from Whistler to Vail To reinforce that message,another WHISTLER,B.C.—Thirty years ago this drought arrived in 1980-81.To the dismay of winter was a pivotal one at many ski areas in businesses in Breckenridge,the local the West.The ski industry from the 1960s newspaper issued a tourist guide in January forward had been riding a huge boom of showing a pile of rock with a skier on it.The baby boomer demographics.Double-digit Denver Post in early January carried a photo increases in skier days were the norm. of lift-operators in Steamboat Springs Then came the drought of 1976-77. reclining in lawn chairs in Hawaiian shirts. The weather varied by region.In Vail, But from adversity emerged new bonds snow was so meager that in December the ski in the young ski communities.In Whistler, company,Vail Associates,conducted what amid the deep cold and brilliant sunshine,the amounted to a soup kitchen for unemployed survivors gathered at a lake to play hockey. people.There was no snow,there was no Then,says Mr. Lepine,something surprising economy,there were no paychecks. In Whistler,the winter started off normally,says Francois Lepine,but "For all the talk about `community in December brought warm weather and Whistler' these days, if one were to ask heavy rain to locations as high as when it all began, the winter of '77 would 10,000 feet in elevation.Then it turned be a pretty good answer." cold—and clear. Francois Lepine "Whistler had no snowmaking of any kind,"writes Mr.Lepine in a happened. reminiscence published in Pique "Individuals who barely said hello to newsmagazine."Up until then the mere each other before became good friends mention of snowmaking usually brought playing hockey. Locals,who never skied on chuckles to all who knew the mountain. In its weekends,mixed with the weekenders on the 10-year history,a lack of snow had never been a problem."Rather,snows were ice for the first time. Older,established residents who only suffered the presence of commonly so heavy that they closed roads and delayed lift openings, sometimes for ski bums as a necessary evil before—and days. certainly would never socialize with them— Snow hauled to the ski trails was not gained some respect for the ones that stuck it out,and friendships across age groups nearly enough. Skiers were downloaded from mid-mountain. Even so,one steeper section developed that winter. resembled a rock garden.A ski rental "For all the talk about `community in o Whistler' these days,if one were to ask when operator took to standing guard at the rocky it all began,the winter of'77 would be a section,demanding that his customers remove their skis and walk down through the pretty good answer. rocks. One day in mid-January,only eight customers had uploaded.The next day,the Aspen, as a ski resort, ski area closed. celebrates 601h birthday It wasn't that way everywhere. Among ski areas in the West,Winter Park had been No more dripping chair lifts! one of the few investors in snowmaking ASPEN,Colo.—Aspen,as a ski destination, is now 60 years old.Although 8 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 people were skiing before World War II with Best known is the new Silverton aid of a contraption called the boat tow,the Mountain Ski Area,a place that has nothing first lift was installed in 1946 and put into but black diamonds. It has one lift,which official operation in January 1947. was recycled from Mammoth Mountain. With that single-chair ski lift,Aspen The other,and older ski area is Kendall emerged from what is often called its quiet Mountain Recreation Area,a place of short years,the period that began when federal runs and a not exactly fearsome 400 feet of subsidies for silver ended in 1893,ending the vertical. Owned by the town,it formerly had mining boom. Aspen,reports The Aspen a rope tow,but now has a second-hand Times,foresaw lift-served downhill skiing as double-chair lift.The lift,reports the "a new,good,and profitable way of life,"in Durango Herald,was originally installed in the words of a columnist of the time,Leonard 1970 at Vermont's Quechee Ski Area,but Woods. was purchased for$50,000 and then installed That people who were part of Aspen's in Silverton at an additional cost of$83,000. rebirth remain alive testifies to the relative This lift is being welcomed by teachers youth of the ski industry. Klaus Obermeyer, in Silverton schools who do double-duty as who later began manufacturing ski clothing, ski instructors on Friday afternoons.Carrie was a ski instructor that first season.He Cline sees a day when local students fostered remains in Aspen,as do two brothers,Frank by Kendall Mountain and then Silverton and John Dolinsek,who worked on the Mountain will become Olympians. "How construction crew that erected the first lift. cool would it be to put a Silverton skier in But while a great many people have the Olympics some day?" lamented the changes at ski areas in recent Steamboat has had 69 Olympians,most years,it's doubtful anybody laments that first of any town in the United States.The title chair lift.The lift ride took a half-hour,and "Ski Town,USA" was claimed because of grease and oil frequently dripped on not only the Olympians,but also the high passengers. The ski company promised to school's marching band,which performs on dry-clean any ski clothes that were soiled. skis. "They did a lot of dry-cleaning,"Mr. Silverton has no band—or basketball or Obermeyer told The Aspen Times. track teams,for that matter. Enrollment Ski prices are another matter. Aspen dropped after the last mine closed in the late charged$3.75 a day that first season, 1990s,and schools now have only 58 although the$140 season's pass seems steep, students,including kindergartners. given the wages of the time. Winter Park expands its Silverton has 2 ski areas, environmental program 2 chairlfits, and 500 people Wind power and other things Both ends of the skiing spectrum WINTER PARK,Colo.—Ski resorts SILVERTON,Colo.—With apologies to have become more environmentally Steamboat Springs,which long ago laid legal conscious during the last decade., claim to the phrase,tiny Silverton still has a Whistler/Blackcomb,Vail,and Mammoth, good claim to being"Ski Town USA." among others,have all taken major steps. Steamboat has two ski areas,Howelson Winter Park Resort has packaged its Hill and Mt.Werner,the latter home to the greening ways in a new program called Steamboat Mountain Resort,and a Connexion.The effort includes purchase of population of about 10,000 people. credits for wind-generated electricity(400 Silverton, with a population of 500,also megawatt hours,enough to power two has two ski areas,although only two lifts. chairlifts),greater efforts to reduce energy use,and an expanded recycling program. 9 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 In food operations,Winter Park's on- Snocat driver dies in mountain restaurants are now using cups, plates, and bowls made from renewable Crested Butte accident resources including corn,sugar cane and CRESTED BUTTE,Colo.—A snow potato starch. groomer at Crested Butte Mountain Resort died when he either got out or fell out of his New tram OK'd for Snocat and got pulled under the track.The victim,Chris Mikesell,had grown up in Jackson Hole Resort Kansas,then studied at Western State Uphill capacity will double College in Gunnison.He was a whitewater JACKSON HOLE,Wyo.—The Forest raft guide by summer, and also dabbled in Service has given approval to a new aerial construction,but managed to ski 90 to 100 tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. days each winter.This was his first winter as Capacity of the new tram will be 100 a snow groomer,reports the Crested Butte passengers per cabin,compared to 55 News. passengers for the old tram,and with an hourly uphill capacity of 650,more than Rapid rescue in backcountry double the old tram. The owner of the ski area,Jay fails to avert avalanche death Kemmerer,had first appealed for funding `The best son a father could have' from the state government and other public JACKSON HOLE,Wyo.—Again comes sources,but last August said he would sad testimony that you need not be buried by privately finance the $25 million cost. snow to die in an avalanche. Dopplmayr/CTEC is to build the new tram, The evidence this time is from the the largest in size and scope among ski backcountry immediately adjacent to the resorts in North America. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.There,three skiers were at a cliff called Fat Bastard, Silver lining in cloud of planning to ski a chute described as extreme Berthoud Pass avalanche terrain.Avalanche danger that day had been reported as moderate,and indeed,seven Only bad news is an obituary people had been caught in the Southern WINTER PARK,Colo.—The avalanche Tetons by an avalanche the previous day, that blocked Highway 40 on the east side of although none were killed. Berthoud Pass on Jan. 6 had a silver lining. The avalanche at Fat Bastard caught all Businesses in Winter Park tell the Manifest three skiers.By one account,two of skiers that they had an unusually good day of were buried up to their necks. Other skiers commerce.Too, some think the publicity will who arrived shortly dug them out.The third help Winter Park in coming months. If not skier was uncovered rapidly,but was entirely accurately,the news reports unconscious. repeatedly identified Winter Park as the Help arrived within five minutes,perhaps closest resort to Denver. as quickly as one minute. It was for naught. For people trying to catch planes that A doctor at the scene declared him dead Saturday,the avalanche forced a detour before a helicopter arrived,reports the through Summit County,more than doubling Jackson Hole News&Guide.The Teton the drive time.The ski area operator County coroner attributed death to massive estimated a 10 percent drop in business. internal injuries. The avalanche of the Stanley Slide The dead skier,Justin Kautz,25, was caught eight people,knocking two cars off remembered as a devout Christian who gave the highway. Nobody was seriously hurt, away money to those he believed had needs however. greater than his own,but also as someone 10 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 who loved the exhilaration of skiing.He just California ski resorts loved to go fast and scream and yell and just have fun,one friend told the newspaper. He sold to Florida company worked as a front desk clerk,but had also Booth Creek will manage them been published in a magazine for telemark- TRUCKEE,Calif.—Booth Creek Ski turning skiers. Holdings,formerly of Vail and now based in "He had deep faith in the redemptive Truckee,has sold two of its ski resorts, power of God,which enabled him to stand up Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe,but for what was right,regardless of the will continue to operate them.Buying the consequences,"said his father,Will Kautz,in properties was Florida-based CNL Income an interview with the Valley News of White Properties.Also included in the$170 million River Junction,Vt. "He was the best son any purchase were Loon Mountain in New dad could ever have." Hampshire and The Summit-at-Snowqualmie in Washington state. Intrawest trying to sell Booth Creek continues to own two other Panorama Mountain Resort New Hampshire resorts,Cranmore Mountain and Waterville Valley. Falls outside of core assets Julie Maurer,from Booth Creek,told the INVERMERE,B.C.—Intrawest is trying Sierra Sun the main repercussion of the sale to sell its Panorama Mountain Resort,saying will be increased capital for operations and that Panorama falls outside of its core resort development.Booth Creek has been engaged assets. Company officials told the Invermere in extensive real estate development at the Echo that Intrawest wants to focus on growth Truckee-area resorts,some of it in of larger resorts such as Whistler-Blackcomb conjunction with East West Partners. and Mt.Tremblant. Booth Creek was formed by George Gillett,former owner of Vail Associates,in the mid-1990s after he emerged from Breckenridge looks to get bankruptcy and re-entered the meat-packing 18,000 skier capacity business. He and a long-time business partner,Jeff Joyce,along with two of Needs more breathing room Gillett's former employees at Vail,Chris BRECKENRIDGE,Colo.—The Ryman and Elizabeth Cole,now own Booth Breckenridge ski area is looking to expand Creek.Gillett is chairman of the company, during the next six to eight years. Ryman the president,and Cole the chief In addition to a new mid-mountain financial officer. restaurant,a new teaching area,and more snowmaking,one or two more lifts are planned to service 400 new acres of Banff resorts allowed intermediate and advanced terrain,reports the relatively few changes Summit Daily News. Must stay within footprints The expanded infrastructure will give Breckenridge a comfortable carrying capacity BANFF,Alberta—Ski areas located in the national parks of Alberta may very well of 18,000 skiers per day.It gets crowds of that size regularly,but does not be changing,although they are unlikely to accommodate them comfortably.Rick become clones of the amenity-rich resorts found in the United States and in other parts Sramek,vice president of operations,said of Cana Breckenridge foresees no significant skier Canada. growth. "We're not seeing an increase of Parks Canada,which administers Banff National Park,where several of the ski areas peak days,but a filling in of the season,"he said. are located,has released new rules governing modifications.The ski areas will be able to 11 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 install new lifts,cut new runs,and widen In fact,the climate has changed so much existing ski trails. As well,they can expand that trees once thought delusional,such as their warming huts,restaurants,and other apple and cherry trees in mountain towns, buildings — but only if these changes are may now be possible,according to the within the existing footprint. National Arbor Day Foundation. Two ski areas,Marmot Basin in Jasper Based on average low temperatures,the and Ski Banff @ Norquay,will also be able Nebraska-based group issues a 10-zone to introduce summer use,as long as they can hardiness scale for trees in the United States. prove it won't create environmental Zones range from the most hostile, 1,such as disruption. would be found above timberline,to the most What the ski area operators did not win, tropical, 10. reports the Rocky Mountain Outlook, is After gathering temperature data from authority to build base-area lodging and new 5,000 weather stations for the period from restaurants.Instead,skiers will be required to 1990 to 2005,the organization revised its commute to existing towns,particularly hardiness zones. Many areas of the nation Banff. were one zone warmer,others even two zones warmer. Each zone shift indicated Going uphill at downhill ski minimum temperatures that were 10 degrees less cold. areas has become popular The new broad-brushed ratings may Ski areas become Stairmasters surprise tree-growers in mountain valleys. KETCHUM,Idaho—For reasons that The new map puts Idaho's Wood River remain unclear,ski slopes have become like Valley,where Ketchum and Sun Valley are giant outdoor gymnasiums during the last located,in decade.People aren't getting uphill just by zone 5, taking the lifts. Morning,noon,or night, suitable for all "There's obviously they're skinning up their skis,putting on manner of something a little snowshoes,or just tromping uphill. apples,plus goofy here." And it's getting to be a problem,at least peaches, Nicole Ripley at Sun Valley ski area,reports the Idaho plums,and Mountain Express. pears. Ditto Director "Where there used to be six or eight folks for Avon,at Ford Alpine Gardens hiking up the runs at dawn,there are now as the base of Vail many as 100 on a busy day,and many of Colorado's those folks are hiking up the middle of a run Beaver Creek. or have dogs with them,"said Joe Miczulski, It is,according to the Arbor Day Foundation winter sports director for the Sawtooth website,a suitable place for apricots and National Forest. cherries,similar to Denver. Even Breckenridge,Telluride,and Fraser,the self- described Icebox of the Nation,or at least Temperatures have warmed, Colorado,should be able to host maple and but enough for apple trees? apple trees, if the website can be believed. "There's obviously something a little Arbor Day issues new zone ratings goofy,"says Nicola Ripley,director of the JACKSON HOLE,Wyo.—Temperatures Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail."We all in mid-January dipped to 10,20 and even 35 agree that the climate is softening,but no below zero in mountain towns.That's plenty way is Avon the same as Denver." cold,but not the sustained,penetrating cold The Web site for the Arbor Day's that was commonplace in the 1980s and Foundation does offer a caveat,noting that before. microclimates of specific areas may render the zones incomplete. 12 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 Several tree specialists told the Jackson methane,generating both heat and electricity Hole News&Guide that cold temperatures for the athletes' village for 15 years,which is have diminished,but not enough to warrant to then be used for employee housing, wholesale changes. according to Pique newsmagazine. "I would say that I have noticed that some things do better than they used to," said Grade-school parents push Jeri Hall,a nursery manager at Porcupine Greenhouse and Nursery in Jackson for the for dual-language instruction past 15 years. "Not the big trees like you see Program successful in Basalt back east. We've tried a couple of different CARBONDALE,Colo.—Several Anglo varieties of the bigger tree maples,and they parents of students at a public elementary are kind of iffy." school in Carbondale,located 30 miles Mr. Hall added that he's sticking to the down-valley from Aspen,are pushing for full trees recommended for Zone 3,where the bi-lingual instruction,called dual language. average low temperature is-30 to-40 degrees Students at the school are mostly Latino. Fahrenheit.Jackson Hole is now rated as Nearby at an elementary school in Basalt, both zones 3 and 4. a dual-language program has existed for 10 In Driggs,Idaho,on the west side of the years—and has achieved strong results, says Tetons,a nursery yard manager,Jared Searle, Colin Laird,who has a third-grader at the said he sees some hitherto unthinkable trees— Carbondale school. "It seems valuable in like apples and cherries—surviving,if Basalt. Maybe it will work here,"he told the planted in sheltered areas or against a house. Valley Journal."Given our demographics,it "I'd say the winters have gotten less nasty seems like a perfect fit." over the last 10 years,"he said. "I can see At the Carbondale school,about 80 them bumping it up a level." To study the percent of the students are Latinos,and many material yourself,go to www.arborday.org/ are learning English.That statistic does not mirror the demographics of the town,as Whistler's trash helping to many Anglo,English-speaking parents removed their children from the public light homes in Seattle school. Some were distressed when the Trash shipped to high-tech landfill Montessori component of the school was WHISTLER,B.C.—Whistler's trash is removed,and so they formed their own, now lighting homes in the Pacific Northwest. Montessori-method-based, school. But poor The trash is trucked and then hauled by scores on state-mandated tests,commonly rail to a state-of-the-art landfill at Roosevelt, called C-SAPs,the result of so many students Wash.,in the and country along the learning English,also disturbed many Columbia River in south-central Washington, parents. about 550 miles(900 kilometers)from Mr. Laird said he sees the situation as an Whistler. opportunity.Children who have grown up in Methane of the landfill's decomposing Spanish-speaking households learn English, trash is captured and then burned to create and English-speaking students learn Spanish. electricity,powering 7,000 homes.Methane Such dual-language programs are being used is a greenhouse gas that is 20 times more across the country,to great success, in effective at trapping heat than is carbon similar situations,he told The Aspen Times. dioxide. Students in the school already have 45 A similar use of landfill gases is also minutes per day of instruction. In addition, planned in Whistler,which closed its landfill the elementary school has 18 kindergarten in 2005 so the site could be used for the students who are in a pilot literacy program, athletes' village at the 2010 Winter a precursor to a dual-language program. Olympics. Whistler plans to trap the 13 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 Real estate sales continue surge in real estate volume. However,the surge was driven in large part by the boom in surge in many valleys oil-and-gas production,and also the rising Aspen rockets, Vail takes breather interest in oil shale development. GLENWOOD SPRINGS,Colo.—In That boom is centered in Rifle,about 80 miles from Aspen and Vail.Million-dollar Aspen,the real-estate market continued homes are selling in the Rifle area, posting another huge increase. In Vail and something unheard of five years ago, said Park City,markets slowed down,even if Lynn Kirchner,managing broker for the prices continued to rise. And elsewhere in the Sotheby's International Realty Branch in West,two more resort-dominated valleys Carbondale. joined the billion-dollar club. The Steamboat Springs-anchored Routt Total sales volume for selected markets 2006 2005 2004 Ave. S-F home sale Colorado Eagle County: $2.75 billion $2.8 billion $2.22 billion $1.1 million Pitkin County: $2.64 billion $2.06 billion $679 million $3.8 million Summit County: $1.63 billion $1.47 billion $1.12 billion $737,000 Routt County: $1.12 billion $885 million $636 million $780,000 Garfield County: $1.04 billion $855 million $599 million $393,000 Utah Summit County* $1.91 billion $2.12 billion $1.24 billion $952,088 *Includes part of Wasatch County Sources:Land Title Guarantee Co.for Colorado counties,Matt Green for Utah statistics. Aspen-dominated Pitkin County County market also surpassed$1 billion in registered a 28 percent increase in sales.The sales. average sales price of a single-family home In Utah's Park City-anchored Summit was nearly$3.8 million,according to a report County,total volume of sales went down by Land Title Guarantee Co.Colorado's almost 10 percent.This,however,came after Summit County gained 11 percent in total a year in which the market nearly doubled in sales volume. sales volume,noted Matt Green,president of the Park City Board of Realtors. However, An anomaly to this general increase despite the drop in volume,the average price was Vail-anchored Eagle County. of a single-family home sale in Park City After an increase of 100 percent in sales increased 30 percent last year,hitting volume during the previous two years, $952,088. volume last year declined 2 percent.Also, even if total sales volume slipped,average Even as resort prices rise,a lot of the sale prices continued to rise briskly. Eagle sales action has been found in the County continues to lead resort counties in down-valley communities.In Carbondale, 30 the Rocky Mountains with nearly$2.8 billion miles from Aspen,the average single-family in sales. sales price jumped to nearly$500,000 last Meanwhile,two other real estate markets year,reported The Aspen Times.Eagle, in the Colorado mountains surpassed$1 located 30 miles from Vail, was a scene of billion in sales last year.Garfield County, flurried sales activity last year. traditionally a bedroom community for the Aspen and Vail resort areas,saw a 22 percent 14 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 Vail Pass wildlife overpass been allocated$420,000.The model for such overpasses is in Alberta's Banff National a poster child for excess? Park,where activists are working to preserve Cited in Wall Street Journal article remnant populations of grizzly bears and VAIL PASS,Colo.—In 1999,a wolves,as well as the more plentiful elk, Canadian lynx from among the first moose,and black bears. transplanted batch of reintroduced release But that Congressional earmark,reports into Colorado was squashed on Interstate 70 near Vail Pass,and three more have subsequently died on the ,�O same highway between Vail and t q Denver. As well, in 2003,the first wolf " verified in Colorado in 60 years was also killed on I-70,near Idaho Springs. �v OVEt�RSt} 6tt31 ,�t59* The deaths of the wolf and lynx, both of them of endangered species, "5 seemed to verify what wildlife biologists had long been saying,that I- 70 had become a Berlin Wall to a wildlife. Even before these deaths,the3` biologists had been working to get - �y 3 structures,called wildlife overpasses, i installed across I-70 and other highways. The Wall Street Journal, was opposed by In response,Congress in 2005 approved Colorado's former highway boss,Tom something called a congressional spending Norton,who believes wildlife can be earmark.Planning of a wildlife overpass west protected at less cost. "Earmarks make my of the pass,near where the lynx died,has life miserable,"he groused. The Journal made the overpass the centerpieces for the argument against earmarks, which have become more popular in recent years. Such earmarks made up 4 percent of the roughly$1 trillion that Congress allocated in the 2005 fiscal year.Last year's transportation authorization also included a$223 million earmark for a bridge to a sparsely populated Alaskan island.The new Democratic majority in Congress has pledged to diminish use of earmarks,as a way to rein in the burgeoning A wildlife overpass based on similar structures near Banff is federal budget. being planned to bridge I-70 near Vail Pass. A device called Mr.Norton seemed to be a bookmark was used to get Congressional funding for the saying that if the federal money study. Rendering and map both from Southern Rockies was not earmarked,he could use Ecosystem Project website. it for building highways. 15 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 Colorado is notoriously pressed to build responsibility to demand the termination of highways fast enough to keep up with the use of this harmful substance,"concluded population growth and steadily increasing the writer,Karen McCall. driving by people,something measured Defenders of mag chloride point out that statistically as vehicle-miles-traveled per the science remains inconclusive,and that it capita. is without doubt that mag chloride creates But the Southern Rockies Ecosystem generally safer driving conditions.The Project,an advocacy group that lobbied alternatives,sand and cinders,pollute Congress for the earmark,says the Journal waterways and the air. got the story at least partly wrong.The wildlife overpass budget came from a Alcohol stores have separate pot of money,not directly from Colorado's allocation for transportation,said clean slate in Jackson the group's executive director,Monique JACKSON HOLE,Wyo.—Liquor- DiGiorgio. She also points out that if I-70 is dispensing businesses in Jackson learned to be expanded,it must mitigate effects to their lesson. In December,a third of wildlife.This is merely an early-action plan. businesses were willing to sell liquor to an Too,while Mr.Norton said he thought underage decoy working for the local fences and small underpasses would serve political department. Two weeks later,none the same purpose at less expense than the of the 21 businesses tempted bit,reports the football-field-wide wildlife overpasses, Jackson Hole News&Guide. wildlife biologists dispute that solution as ineffectual for a variety of reasons. Escorts in Park City Mag chloride use suspended face more regulation after death near Santa Fe `But we're not the moral police' PARK CITY,Utah—Some 20 escort Controversy in Colorado subsides services are now operating in Park City,a SANTA FE,N.M.—Magnesium chloride response to tightening regulations by cities has been blamed in the death of a driver in along the nearby Wasatch Front. But Park New Mexico.The New Mexican reports that City has now adopted its own,more exacting the driver died after her vehicle slid on a road regulations. covered with the de-icing chemical.Three Those new regulations,reports The Park other crashes,none of them fatal,also were Record,require that escorts must obtain a blamed on mag chloride. license,but also meet with the police chief."I A Santa Fe County sheriff's department don't think we're the moral police," said investigation said a bald tire on the victim's Lloyd Evans,the police chief. But the escorts car contributed to the crash. will be required to prove who they say they New Mexico transportation officials are. suspended use of magnesium chloride,which Escort services are just that,although in lowers the freezing point and prevents snow at least some cases they have been used as from binding to the road surface. fronts for prostitution. Four people from an Use of magnesium chloride has been escort service in Park City were charged last hotly contested in several Colorado valleys, year with prostitution. although publicity has died down in the last two years. Telluride area talking about However,a letter-writer in Ketchum's Idaho Mountain Express took aim at mag creating rural transit district chloride,recounting the uncertainty and the MONTROSE,Colo.—Preliminary talks adversities of the chemical."It is our hare started among government officials in 16 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 the Telluride to Montrose area about creation attorney.Barwick's salary was increased 6 of a rural transportation authority similar to percent,to$159,000,and he was given a the Roaring Fork Transit Authority.The $15,212 bonus. Worcester's new salary is Telluride Watch reports statements from $151,000,with a$15,000 bonus. Montrose County representatives that they A 2005 study found pay for city are probably not interested in contributing managers were as follows: Snowmass tax moneys to such a transit system,at least Village$204,665;Vail$193,125; at first. Breckenridge,$169,689;Avon, $164,924; Steamboat Springs, $134,728;and Glenwood Vail planning director to Springs,$120,333.A report in The Aspen Times,based on an Aspen city press release, manage Snowmass Village was unclear what benefits,if any,are Russell Forrest named included in these figures. SNOWMASS VILLAGE,Colo.— Russell Forrest has been hired as town CAST seeking director to manager in Snowmass Village.Mr. Forrest, replace Jacque Whitsitt 41,has been at Vail since 1992,where he was the town's BASALT,Colo.—The Colorado Association of Ski Towns is recruiting for a first v new executive director to replace Jacque environmental F. 1' Whitsitt,who is retiring.Letters of interest coordinator.He was later named with any supporting material(ex. resume) community � ''14' showing qualifications for the position development . should be submitted by Feb. 28 to: to Tim director and Gagen at Box 168,Breckenridge,CO 80424, oversaw the or e-mailed to him at town's review of ,,.,. " timgi tow noflireckenridge.coni. more than$1 billion in redevelopment.He was selected from a field of 88 applicants. Steamboat City Council "I thought he was extremely articulate member returns ski pass and understood well the communication needs of politics,"a former mayor,T. Issue ostensibly one of disclosure Michael Manchester,told The Aspen Times. STEAMBOAT SPRINGS,Colo.—Ken Mr. Manchester,a member of the citizens' Brenner,a member of the Steamboat Springs review committee,also credited Mr.Forrest's City Council for seven of the last nine years, experience working with a large staff. has returned a season ski pass. A local The Valley Journal reported that the resident,Bob Maddox,brought up the issue position pays$115,000 to$140,000,based at a council meeting.Mr. Maddox said his on qualifications,and has additional benefits: primary issue was the lack of disclosure."I house in Snowmass Village,full health was mostly concerned that he had never benefits, a car allowance,cell phone disclosed how he had a$1,500 pass in his allowance and relocation assistance. back pocket while he was making votes,"Mr. Maddox told The Steamboat Pilot&Today. Aspen council hands out "I think it's a conflict of interest under the (state) statue and under the council's own pay increases to top staff ethical guidelines." Use 2005 study as guide Mr.Brenner said the state law required ASPEN,Colo. Aspen city government that council members required it list those has given pay raises to Steve Barwick,the items that they had received as a result of city manager,and John Worcester,the city their council positions.This pass,he said, 17 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 was not related to his council duties. "It has years—I wish it was longer than it is—to to do with my ski racing—that's why it really turn this around and get this house in wasn't on there."He helps stage ski races as order so we can still have regular,normal a technical delegate to the National Ski working people living in this community," Federation and as a member of the Rocky Mayor Ron Casey told the Rocky Mountain Mountain Division of the U.S. Ski and Outlook in January. Snowboard Association. The new tax was expected to yield an Susan Dellinger,current city council extra$1.3 million for Canmore for a total president,said she doesn't see it as a conflict budget of$28.26 million.In Alberta,town of interest. She noted that she would hate to governments depend upon appropriations see Mr. Brenner's recuse himself on from the provincial government,and the decisions involving the base-area Alberta government does not recognize part- redevelopment based on a$1,500 ski pass. "I timers in its calculations. think conflict of interest is important,but in a A former coal-mining town,Canmore r}"61 town of 12,000, lies at the eastern gateway to Banff National �ii i�yl y there's always Park. Of the population of 11,549 people, going to be some some 4,818 are non-permanent.The relation," she told permanent population is static,while the non- the Pilot. permanent population,called second-home Several owners in the states,continues to rapidly bloggers on the climb.The part-time population last year rose newspaper's 27 percent,while the permanent population website fully rose 1 percent. agreed with Mr.Maddox's public statement The part-timers will be hit with an that the matter was one of full disclosure. average of$420 more in taxes than the full- Others insinuated background friction,one time residents.The full-timers,however, will blogger suggesting this constituted"a little of have to prove their year-round residency. your own medicine." The Outlook reports criticism of the tax Mr. Brenner stepped down recently as hike targeted at part-timers. Susan Barry, president of the city council after two executive director of the Urban Development surgeries,one for his back. He said that being Institute,said the council had again failed to council president was too taxing,but he also consult those who are affected. Chris acknowledged that without having to be a 011enberger,president of the Three Sisters mediator,he can be more"politically Mountain Village,a real-estate development oriented." that aims for the part-timers,similarly expressed"surprise"at the lack of public Canmore hikes taxes notice or consultation.A future envisioning process"talked extensively about inclusivity of vacation properties of the non-permanent resident and Backs off effects to full-timers cohesiveness of the community,"he noted. CANMORE,B.C.—Second-home He warned against alienating the non- owners in Canmore are going to be taxed at a permanent resident population. higher rate. But,after a storm of controversy, But John Stutz,the mayor of Banff, the tax has been suspended for second homes located 15 miles away,said he found and other properties that are rented to Canmore's move"very,very interesting," permanent residents. and applauded it.Banff,like Canmore,has City leaders in Canmore justify the struggled to find alternative sources of targeted property tax as necessary to provide revenue. Canmore is the first municipality in increased revenues,but also to allow it to Alberta to impose such a measure,although continue as a functioning town. "We have 15 there seem to be precedents in British Columbia and Manitoba. 19 Mountain Town News Jan. 19, 2007 19