The woman who headed up Summit County’s Green initiatives for seven years is leaving. But she’s around for a few more weeks to hand off the job to her successor.
Lisa Yoder came to work for the county in 2013. She told KPCW that she feels it’s time now to step away and devote more time to personal interests.
She noted certainly a major accomplishment during her tenure is that Summit County joined with Park City and over 20 other locales in the state, in the Community Renewable Energy Program.
The goal is for county government to obtain net 100 percent renewable energy through Rocky Mountain Power. They expect to meet the goal in 2023, some seven years ahead of their original target.
Yoder said there was never a dull moment working on Sustainability, but it’s a complex area.
“It’s scientific, it’s technical, it’s social. It requires lots of partners. And it’s always new technology, where usually pushing the envelope. So it’s a matter of getting all parties on board to make these things happen, to invest in new technologies that are relatively new but proven. So it takes some doing to get all parties engaged in pushing in the same direction, or at least not resisting. So there’s been times where it’s been frustrating, but that’s been part of the overall joy of it all is working through those complications.”
The new Sustainability Director, Emily Quinton, was hired after a nation-wide search, and began her new job this week. She said she’s leaving behind a job in Portland State University’s Sustainability Office.
“My background is in Sustainability and environmental work, largely in Higher Ed and K-12 education sectors. At the University, I was involved in a variety of different programs. I think it’s pretty typical for anybody in a Sustainability role to wear a lot of hats. But I’m really thrilled. I was leading the University’s efforts to implement a renewable-energy strategy, so there’s a lot of overlap with the learning and effort to work with utility partners, understand state utility regulation and understand what our choices are for energy. That I think will translate really well to continuing the incredible work that Lisa’s been doing in the county.”
New Sustainability Director Emily Quinton, who said her first order of business is finding out about the hopes and the goals of the Summit County Council.
Yoder said she will be around until January 31st.
