Dear Mayor Francis and Councilmembers Conway, Pignataro, Fudge, Potyondy, Hoeven, and Nelsen –
We appreciate Councilmembers Conway and Potyondy bringing up the importance of scoring staff’s proposed “Our Climate Future” investments based on dollars per equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2(e)) reductions at the work session on Tuesday night. And we’re glad that Chief Sustainability Officer Castillo committed to doing so as staff prepares for budget discussion later this year. That will allow councilmembers to compare the cost per ton of lifetime CO2(e) emissions to the social cost of carbon calculated by the Biden Administration EPA as part of their decision-making process.
We believe that the distinction made by staff between investments that emphasize climate pollution reduction and investments that promote equity is a false one in many cases. For instance, in 2024 staff proposed an interim budget offer to expand the mobile home park energy mini-grant program. That offer had a score of $82 per metric ton of lifetime CO2(e) – well under the social cost of carbon of about $240 per ton. On the other hand, staff also proposed to replace existing parks utility carts with electric utility carts at a cost of $1,333 per ton of CO2(e) – far more than the social cost of carbon (see attached analysis performed by us in 2024). The first investment was a win-win for equity and the climate. The second was more of a lose-lose, and should have been funded through the regular Parks Department budget.
We were disturbed by Castillo’s assertion that had staff wanted to maximize greenhouse gas pollution (emissions) reductions, the proposed investments would look different than the ones outlined on Tuesday night. We were equally disturbed by the lack of pushback by councilmembers to that assertion. Given that the City is not on track to meet its 2026, 2030, or 2050 goals, we need staff to work to close those gaps, not to project an air of complacency about its failure to do so. And we need councilmembers to hold staff accountable for bringing forward budget offers to meet the goals adopted by previous councils.
Fort Collins has a history of establishing and meeting climate goals that stretches back over a quarter of a century. That has brought Fort Collins improved air quality, additional jobs, and national and international recognition. With the climate crisis worsening each year, this is not the time for backtracking on the City’s climate goals. Please do not be the council that abdicates its responsibility to lead on addressing the climate emergency.
Sincerely,
Kevin Cross, Convener
Cost Effectiveness of 2024 Climate Program Interim Budget Offers
