Big Move 1: Shared Leadership and Community Partnership
All parts of our community lead, implement and benefit from Our Climate Future.
2024 Highlights:
The Colorado State University Center for Environmental Justice was selected to co-lead the new EPA Region 8 Technical Assistance Center. It helps community organizations, cities and towns, and Tribal organizations find funding, partners and other resources to solve environmental issues throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana.
Larimer County's Climate Smart Future Ready (CSFR) initiative expands climate and sustainability action across the region. During the first year, CSFR created an EV Charging Station Information Guide and an Energy Efficiency and Electrification Technical Assistance Navigators guide for businesses. It also brought over $16 million into our region to support CSFR priorities.
Big Move 2: Zero Waste Neighborhoods
We can all share and reuse so we don't have to buy things we won't regularly use and are able to recycle or compost the rest.
2024 Highlights:
The City of Fort Collins began a contracted residential trash and recycling program. It provides weekly yard trimmings collection for thousands more Fort Collins households from April – November each year and shifted from every other week to weekly recycling collection.
Wolverine Farm Publick House launched a project to pilot a citywide, reusable cup system for Fort Collins. Several other businesses across Fort Collins are also leading the way with shared reusable cups!
FoCo Trash Mob (FCTM) spoke to hundreds of people and organizations throughout the year, educating our community about the negatives of single-use plastics. FCTM is also participating in a pilot project called Climate COOLER with University of Northern Colorado and advocating for legislation regarding single-use plastic water bottles in Fort Collins.
Contract For Trash Program
The Way Cup Project
Big Move 3: Climate Resilient Community
People, buildings, watersheds and ecosystems are prepared for the threats of climate change.
2024 Highlights:
Work began on an EPA grant "Enhancing Monitoring of Air Toxics and Air Quality Education in Underserved Communities in Northern Colorado." The project includes air toxics monitoring at priority sites such as oil and gas operations, gas stations and schools. An Air Quality Monitoring Advisory Committee guides monitoring and outreach to make information about air pollutants and health impacts more relevant and accessible.
The Utilities' Water Efficiency Plan was updated with extensive public engagement, evaluation of conservation strategies for equitable outcomes and development of a new water modeling tool for efficiency and conservation strategies under current and future climate and population scenarios.
Utilities and other City departments completed planning work for Phase 1 of One Water, the management of drinking water, water reclamation and stormwater utilities. Phase 1 provided current state of water systems, plans and partnerships across the City organization.
Water Efficiency Plan
Big Move 4: Convenient Transportation Choices
It is safe, easy, fast and affordable to get around without a car.
2024 Highlights:
Transfort, Fort Collins' public transportation provider, is keeping the service fare-free for all riders after pausing fares during COVID-19.
The City completed construction of raised separated bike lanes on Laporte Avenue between Sunset Street and Fishback Avenue, as well as buffered bike lanes from Fishback Avenue to Wood Street. This infrastructure improves connectivity to nearby schools, businesses, downtown and CSU's Foothills Campus. *
Transfort received a $2.4 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to fund its Accessibility Enhancements Project. This will improve accessibility infrastructure and comfort of over 40 bus stops in Transfort's service area.
The City launched plans to add Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along West Elizabeth Street, which is a dense corridor of housing, restaurants and retail, especially for students in the community.
Fare-Free Transit
Big Move 5: Live, Work, Play Nearby
No matter where we live, we all can meet our basic daily needs without driving across town.
2024 Highlights:
The US Department of Transportation awarded the City $1.7 million through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program to study Harmony Road, install a demonstration project on Lake Street and review Fort Collins codes and standards to make sure they align with the Active Modes Plan and Vision Zero.
FC Moves launched several new initiatives as part of the Shift Your Ride Plan including the Vanpool Subsidy Program, the creation of an online resource hub for sustainable transportation and an extensive Transportation Demand Management outreach campaign.
The City kicked off "The Future of Commercial Corridors and Centers", which focuses on Land Use Code updates for commercial and employment zone districts, corridors and development standards. These topics help advance the City's 15-Minute City goals. They explore how the Land Use Code can help create neighborhoods where residents can reach essential services, jobs and recreation within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. City Council will consider potential adoption of these code updates in Fall of 2025.
Safe Routes to School
Shift Your Ride
Land Use Code Updates
Big Move 6: Efficient, Emissions Free Buildings
Everyone lives and works in healthy energy and water efficient buildings which transition to become emissions free.
2024 Highlights:
Fort Collins Utilities partnered with the community to develop detailed Building Performance Standards (BPS) policy recommendations. BPS are a targeted way to cut pollution, reduce energy consumption and create a healthier and more resilient environment indoors and outdoors. City Council will consider adoption of the recommendations in 2025.
The City's Municipal Innovation Fund awarded grants to eight projects that help City operations lead by example, including an upgrade to LED theatrical lighting in the Lincoln Center's Magnolia Theater.
City staff and community consultants partnered with Energy Outreach Colorado to pilot expanded energy efficiency upgrades to mobile homes communities, providing increased cost savings and reliability.
The City of Fort Collins received a grant from the US Department of Energy for Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation. The City works with several organizations to set building energy use and carbon reduction targets for the next three code cycles (2024, 2027 and 2030).
Building Performance Standards
Big Move 7: Healthy Affordable Housing
Everyone has stable, healthy housing they can afford.
2024 Highlights:
City Council adopted Land Use Code updates in May of 2024, the first comprehensive update of the Land Use Code since 1997. Changes included updates to improve usability and clarity, and help expand and adjust incentives for affordable housing.
The City provided utility fee offset grants to three affordable housing projects that are going over and above code requirements to produce highly efficient, comfortable and sustainable housing for low-wage workers. Sustainability features often add cost to build, and these three developments were able to include these and still offer homes at affordable prices. *
The City's water efficiency team is piloting a grant program for nonprofit affordable housing providers supporting affordable housing and landscape health. A grant in the amount of $29,700 helped install of four water-wise yards at Habitat for Humanity's Harmony Cottages location.
Neighborhood Services and Environmental Services departments partnered to award $90,000 to 23 projects for mobile home and rental property upgrades to improve the health, safety, comfort and efficiency of homes in Fort Collins.
Big Move 8: Local, Affordable and Healthy Food
Everyone has access to healthy and affordable food, sourced or rescued from local and regional producers.
2024 Highlights:
An AmeriCorps community research fellowship studied ways that the City can better support a reliable local food system that meets community nutrition needs. Recommendations where shared with he City to explore connections to programs and services.
The Northern Colorado Foodshed Project and their regional partners were awarded grant funding from both the USDA and the City of Fort Collins to launch a program called the Veg Van. The Veg Van will be a 'low to no-cost farmers market on wheels' to address food insecurity in areas of need.
In November, Larimer County partnered with CSU Extension to host the Farm 2 Local Biz Event. Local producers and businesses were invited to come and learn about each other's work, network and make connections to increase local food purchasing in Northern Colorado.
Northern Colorado Foodshed Project
Big Move 9: Healthy Local Economy and Jobs
The community supports a healthy, innovative local economy with new opportunities for all people and businesses to thrive.
2024 Highlights:
NOCOBiz Connect, a free, bilingual program that provides tailored support to Northern Colorado businesses, launched early in the year. The program fosters small changes that lead to big savings while positively impacting community wellbeing. Participating businesses are saving money, improving operational efficiency, strengthening their reputation and tapping into new markets.
In June, Fort Collins Utilities introduced the Building Industry Scholarship to further educate and expand local industry workforce on energy efficiency, high performance building and zero energy/zero carbon building. The initial $35,000 funded scholarships for 27 recipients. *
Landscape professionals participating in Utilities' water conservation programs were eligible to be listed on the City's Water-Wise Landscape and Irrigation Professionals web page and receive monthly updates on opportunities. The page is a resource for community members seeking out professionals well versed in water-wise landscape principles.
NOCOBiz Connect
Big Move 10: Zero Waste Economy
Business, industry, institutions and government collaborate to recirculate resources and eliminate waste.
2024 Highlights:
The City fostered community collaboration on the adopted Circular Economy Workplan through the Economic Health Office's 2024 Business Appreciation Celebration. Local businesses and leaders came together to create opportunities for innovation, strengthening our workforce and ensuring a thriving business community despite the challenges of climate change.
Compost Queen, a local food scraps compost collection and processing business, expanded to open a new food scraps compost facility in north Fort Collins.
The City's Hoffman Mill Crushing Facility began composting yard trimmings generated from municipal operations, keeping these materials from going into the landfill.
The City supported progress toward the State's Producer Responsibility law implementation, including supporting the State legislature's vote and serving on the advisory board. Producer Responsibility will bring producer-funded recycling service to all single- and multi-unit residences in 2026.
Compost Queen
Big Move 11: Healthy Natural Spaces
We all are stewards of healthy natural spaces and honor the deep and historical human connection to this land.
2024 Highlights:
City Forestry staff have been working to develop the City's first Urban Forest Strategic Plan, which will establish a 20-year vision for managing the urban canopy. City Council will consider adoption of this plan in January 2025.
The Poudre River Health Assessment project was launched by a team from Natural Areas and Utilities, working with the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed. The project team developed a sampling plan, hired a river sampling team and drafted the 2025 engagement strategy. Results will be available in early 2026. *
Oil and gas production within City limits ceased operation after the one remaining legacy operator was ordered to shut down due to repeated environmental violations. Oil and gas related land use code currently prevents approval of any new applications for development within City limits, including the City's Natural Areas and Parks.
Urban Forest Strategic Plan
Big Move 12: 100% Renewable Electricity
Everyone in the community receives affordable and reliable 100% renewable electricity, including from local sources.
2024 Highlights:
Utilities offered an increased "boost" incentive to help people purchase solar, add battery storage or receive a new incentive to increase the size of their existing systems. During the special limited-time boost, customers almost doubled their community battery capacity!
Fort Collins Utilities continued the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) effort through our Peak Partners program working with Platte River Power Authority to develop and launch a regional system to manage distributed energy resources.
Progress was made on the redesign and construction of the Riverside Community Solar array, which was fully repowered in early 2025. After an equipment failure in 2023, staff have worked with a vendor to extend the lifetime of the site with a more resilient design for the next 15+ years! *
Big Move 13: Electric Cars and Fleets
Residents can afford and use electric cars, including shared electric cars, and conventional fleets are converted to electric.
2024 Highlights:
The City is updating the Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap with current information about electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, along with refreshed strategies to facilitate increased EV adoption and support access to charging throughout the community.
The Smart Charging Program aligns residential EV charging with times the City's primary electricity source is wind power. This program helps customers manage their energy usage, lower our community's peak demand and reduce our community's carbon emissions.
As part of the City's Transportation Electrification Plan, four more battery electric buses were added to Transfort's fleet.
The City of Fort Collins received over $1 million from the Department of Transportation's SMART Grants program to pilot software on existing vehicle charging stations to optimize and monitor charging and reduce demand, with the intention to improve electric vehicle fleet performance and battery health.
Transfort Electric Buses
Our Climate Future includes commitments to three ambitious community-wide targets related to climate action.
GHG Inventory
Goals:
- 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to the 2005 baseline
- Carbon neutrality by 2050
In 2023, the Fort Collins community reduced our greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) 27% compared to 2005 baseline levels. Per capita (per person), emissions were down even more - 44%!
Key reduction areas include:
- Lower community electricity use (3% decrease in electricity consumption since 2022)
- Increased local solar (36% increase in local electricity generation from 2022)
- Lower industrial manufacture emissions (69% reduction in emissions from 2022)
- Decreased materials going to the landfill (13% decrease in tons of waste from 2021)
Climate Dashboard
Renewable Electricity
Goals:
- 100% renewable electricity consumption by 2030
- 5% of Fort Collins electricity consumption supplied by local solar
In 2023, Fort Collins electricity came from 49% renewable sources. Staff project that it will be similar in 2024 and jump to 55% in 2025 and 65% in 2026, based on Platte River Power Authority's plans for additional generation from wind, solar and energy storage.
The community now has 3,820 local solar systems in the community that contributed 3.2% of our electricity.
**Platte River Power Authority is the community-owned public power utility that generates and delivers energy and services to Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland, Colorado, for delivery to their utility customers.
Fort Collins Energy Data
Waste Diversion
Goal:
100% waste diversion by 2030
In 2023, the Fort Collins community recycled or composted 61% of the total waste that was generated, up from 57% in 2022. Called the community diversion rate, this community-wide indicator can vary significantly year to year based on large construction projects and other factors.
In 2023, the primary factors that led to a higher diversion rate were:
- Demolition of a large commercial space (which led to larger amounts of industrial materials being recycled)
- Increased asphalt, concrete and soil recycled at the City Streets Department's Hoffman Mill Crushing Facility
- A new data source for commercial cardboard recycling (a methodology change that means we are including these materials in the diversion rate for the first time)
Fort Collins Waste Data
For annual reports on recycling and waste diversion, please email recycling@fortcollins.gov.