Jackson Hole greenhouse gas inventory released
Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities (YTCC) has released the findings from a new inventory of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) over the past ten years.
The analysis found that community-wide emissions increased 16.9% in the ten-year period. At the same time, the population of the area grew 12%, from 20,686 in 2008 to 23,081 in 2018.
YTCC contracted with Climate Mitigation Services to update the inventory. Although some measurement technology has changed over the years, the inventory compared 2019 results with emission data collected in 2008, using the same methodologies.
Driving and ground transportation were the single largest contributor to GHG over the decade, rising by 20.1% in the period. 50% of ground transportation in Jackson Hole is attributed to tourists driving through Teton County and Grand Teton National Park. Air travel emissions increased 18.3% and accounted for 17.4% of greenhouse gas emissions in the county.
YTCC says alternative vehicle and petroleum reduction strategies helped Teton County fleets reduce 3,231 tons of GHG emission through alternative fuel use, fuel economy improvements, vehicle miles traveled and idle reductions. In addition, electric buses will soon be coming on line.
Electricity sector emissions fell 51.3%, even though electricity consumption rose by 26%. That is credited to Lower Valley Energy’s energy efficiency projects and the purchase of most of its electricity through the hydro-electric base of Bonneville Power. Only 3% of Teton County’s electricity is provided by fossil fuels.
YTCC outlined its overall suggestions. They include:
1) adoption of a Climate Action Plan beginning with mitigation actions
2) implementation of a Teton County Internal Sustainability Strategy, including the hiring of town and county sustainability directors to oversee the climate action plan and meet with community organizations that can help carry it out.
3) develop one over-arching goal, like Net Zero 2030
You can see the complete report here. 
