Updates from Sally Shiekman

The Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Summit in Breckenridge brought together leaders from communities just like ours — places where winter, snowpack, and healthy forests shape daily life. Basalt Town Council Member Hannah Berman joined Aspen Mayor Pro Tem John Doyle, Pitkin County Commissioner Francie Jacober, and dozens of other mountain town leaders to commit to faster, coordinated climate action.

For those of us who live here, the impacts are already visible. Climate data shows Aspen’s winter season has gradually shortened since the 1980s. Wildfire danger drives up insurance costs. And events like the 2018 Lake Christine Fire in Basalt remind us just how vulnerable we are.

The 37 leaders who signed the joint statement made something clear: these challenges aren’t distant threats — they’re here now. And with federal action lagging, mountain towns are stepping up together.

I appreciated Hannah’s focus on practical solutions: electrifying homes and transportation, supporting Holy Cross Energy’s push toward 100% clean power, and making sure new construction is built right from the start. Buildings account for two-thirds of our region’s carbon emissions — so smart decisions now save homeowners from expensive retrofits later.

As someone who has spent more than 30 years helping people build lives in this valley, I’m encouraged to see collaboration, urgency, and leadership at this level. Protecting our climate means protecting the communities and lifestyles we love.

If you’d like to talk about how climate planning intersects with homeownership and long-term value in the Roaring Fork Valley, I’m always here.

Let me put my Mountains of Experience to work for you.