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Park City's Statement on Withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord
STATEMENT FROM MAYOR JACK THOMAS & ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER LUKE CARTIN ON THE UNITED STATES' WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD
Park City Municipal Corporation was extremely disappointed with the federal decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord. Given Park City’s commitment to sustainability, our resolve is only strengthened to continue our march forward in the battle against climate change and environmental degradation. So today, we join in solidarity with countless cities, states, and organizations across the United States and world in an effort to continue to advance the environmental policies that will effect real change at the local level. Harnessing the power of community is one of the most powerful tools to influence change, and the Park City community stands strong in our commitment to the principles of the Paris Climate Accord.
- Mayor Jack Thomas
- Environmental Sustainability Manager Luke Cartin
Park City has pledged to become the first carbon-neutral city in North America by 2032, as well as provide 100 percent of our electricity from renewable sources by the same year. Learn more about Park City Municipal Corporation’s environmental and carbon initiatives.
Renewables
Converting our electricity to 100% renewable is a major part of our transition to become a carbon neutral community. Renewable electricity is created using technologies that don't burn any fossil fuels to create energy, such as water, wind or the sun. There are no associated greenhouse gas emissions with creating energy from renewables. We're confident that the future will be powered with renewables.
Approximately one-third of our community-wide carbon footprint comes from the electricity we use. Decarbonization means removing the carbon emitted from our energy sources. Transitioning to renewables is how we will decarbonize the energy that Park City uses.
In 2016, Park City made the decision to work with the local utility, Rocky Mountain Power, to work together to bring 100% renewable electricity to Park City. Salt Lake City, Summit County and Moab have joined the effort and in total we will convert eighteen percent of Utah’s electric grid to renewables. While Park City is a small community of only around 8,000 people, we believe we have the power to influence to create a pathway for other communities to transition to 100% renewables.
Not only does renewable energy emit drastically fewer carbon emissions as it produces electricity, it will transform Utah’s economy, produce jobs and provide stable electricity. It will also clean the air as we transition our homes, buildings, and transportation to fully electric. Renewables are becoming cheaper than fossil fuels. Renewable energy has plunged is price, and now is competitive, and often cheaper, when compared to traditional coal and natural gas generation. Renewable electricity often has zero cost fuel. The sun and wind don’t ever send a bill. Compare this to traditional coal and natural gas generation, where the fuel price can fluctuate. PacifiCorp, Rocky Mountain Power’s parent company, recently stated that thirteen of its twenty-two coal plants are uneconomic.
In addition, renewable energy keeps the dollars spent on energy close to home. Park City alone spends over $245 million per year on energy, much of which ends up in unstable or even corrupt regions of the world. Imagine if that money was spent on local jobs, benefiting our local economy?
