Michael Fanelli
Climate Desk ReporterMichael Fanelli is the inaugural reporter for Aspen Public Radio’s Climate Desk. He moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in June 2025, after living and working in two very different parts of Alaska. A Southern California local, he got his start in public radio at KCRW in Santa Monica.
At Alaska Public Media in Anchorage, he hosted the statewide morning news and reported on stories ranging from glacier tourism and EV’s to a bagel oasis. Michael was most recently the news director of KRBD in Ketchikan, where he covered local issues like homeless services and kelp entrepreneurship, plus an occasional bizarre story about imitation totem poles. His work has been recognized on several occasions by the Alaska Press Club, including an environmental reporting award for a story about federally funded heat pumps.
Michael is excited to live in a place with a little more sun and a lot less rain. Say hi if you bump into him while exploring the natural beauty of the Western Slope.
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Curbing methane emissions could be the “parachute” needed to slow global warming, said Jacquelyn Francis, founder of Climate Curve. The new prize will be awarded to projects that mitigate emissions of the potent greenhouse gas from agriculture and waste systems. -
The Trump administration plans to roll back a Biden-era rule that discouraged companies from abandoning wells. Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship found that it could cost taxpayers $750 billion. -
Phase Two of Aspen’s Organic Waste Diversion Ordinance goes into effect on Jan. 15. The city’s restaurants have already been composting since 2023, diverting thousands of tons from the landfill. -
Todd Bandhauer designed a powerful electric heat pump that can replace gas-powered boilers used to make steam. More than a fifth of the world’s energy is spent producing industrial heat, much of that in the form of steam. -
The town is hoping to fundraise $500,000 before the end of the year. When the pool opens next summer, it will be powered entirely by electric heat pumps running on renewable energy. -
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis celebrated expanded rebates this week for drivers switching from gas-powered to electric vehicles. An Aspen official says the move can help make up for recently expired federal tax credits. -
Major fire mitigation projects have been completed throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, but many insurers don’t know about those initiatives. A new portal could identify which neighborhoods have invested in wildfire prevention. -
The department says the money is necessary to meet growing demand for fire and emergency services amid falling revenue. It would also go toward housing to make their volunteer-supported operations sustainable. -
Eight candidates are running to fill five open seats on the Rifle City Council. -
The yearlong Commercial Water Efficiency Challenge rewards conservation efforts and offers up to $7,500 for businesses to upgrade to newer appliances.
