Smart cities, smart solutions

Bravo to Larimer County for bringing award winning sustainability solutions to Northern Colorado as covered in the Loveland Reporter-Herald. The county is practicing what they preach by using sustainable energy practices in the administration building and modeling how local businesses can improve energy efficiency, all while being responsible stewards of taxpayer funding.

As clean energy becomes a more viable solution in how we serve cities with dynamic and resilient infrastructure, it comes as no surprise that Larimer County received a hefty silver award for being a SolSmart Community, thanks to their streamlining of solar incentives, permitting and education efforts. Here in Colorado, 36.2% of all electricity comes from renewable sources, and we are number eight in the nation for clean power capacity with 7,773 MW operating wind, solar, and energy storage.

It’s the thoughtful leadership and action of communities like Larimer County that moves our cities to thrive and grow by being more efficient. Renewable energy investments strengthen our local economies and infrastructure resilience. The tax benefits alone exceed $22.8 billion in annual and local state tax revenue from renewable energy.

Thank you for this important work. Let’s rally for other Colorado communities to follow their lead and build smart, sustainable cities.

Bob Boyle, Y•ZERO / Building Resilience, Denver