Photo: Diego Zegarra

This article is paid for by the Committee to Elect Diego Zegarra.

PARK CITY, Utah — City Council candidate Diego Zegarra believes Park City has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the Olympic spotlight into lasting environmental progress. His vision is to host the first-ever carbon-positive Olympic Games, building on the community’s longstanding sustainability goals and leaving behind infrastructure and systems that will enhance local resilience for decades to come.

“As we strive toward our ambitious goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, environmental sustainability remains a key component of my campaign,” Zegarra stated. “For me, sustainability means protecting the land, air, and water that benefit us all, and I am committed to ensuring our community leads in this area once again.”

A Carbon-Positive Olympics

Zegarra envisions the 2034 Winter Olympics as a catalyst to accelerate ongoing initiatives. “What if we hosted the first-ever carbon-positive Olympics — not just carbon neutral?” he asked.

For Zegarra, the journey begins with electrifying Park City’s transit fleet, which would serve as a visible symbol of progress. “What if our entire fleet was electric by 2030 or at least in time for the Games?” he proposed. “Clean, reliable public transit reduces emissions, supports our workforce, and strengthens community connections.”

He believes that many foundational elements are already in place. “Park City made commitments to sustainability as far back as 2017,” he noted. “What we need now isn’t a radical shift but a recommitment to those investments and a willingness to move forward boldly.”

Collaboration and Innovation

Zegarra emphasizes that every major sustainability initiative — from electrification to waste reduction — will need collaboration among city leaders, Summit County, nonprofits, and residents. “Every project will require us to take risks and innovate,” he said. “Whether it’s expanding solar access, improving energy efficiency, or advancing food waste diversion, we must work together.”

Pointing to food waste diversion as a success model, Zegarra, who serves as Vice President of Impact at the Park City Community Foundation, has led initiatives to keep organic materials out of landfills. “We’re encouraging and expanding community-wide food waste diversion — from residences to businesses,” he said. “If we achieve full food and yard waste diversion from the landfill by 2030, we’ll see real long-term savings and sustainable practices in action.”

Endorsed by five Summit County councilors, Zegarra believes that alignment between city and county leaders opens the door to larger regional partnerships. “This level of shared vision and trust provides us with a tangible opportunity to collaborate on issues like food and yard waste, recycling, and wildfire preparedness,” he said.

Building Resilience

Zegarra sees sustainability as directly linked to affordability and safety. “Wildfire risk is one of the most pressing threats to our community,” he said. “We’ve seen other mountain towns become uninsurable. We can’t afford to let that happen here.”

He advocates for stronger defensible-space ordinances, community education, and neighborhood hardening measures. “Preparedness protects households, keeps properties insurable, and builds resilience,” he stated.

Water Conservation and Education

Zegarra also stresses the importance of water conservation in light of worsening drought conditions across the West. “We should accelerate our efforts to conserve water through efficient landscaping, incentives, and water-wise retrofits,” he said. Partnerships with property managers and homeowners’ associations are vital. “Ordinances are not enough without public education.”

At the Foundation, he has witnessed how education enhances implementation. He described an upcoming affordable housing partnership where residents will receive composting bins and hands-on guidance. “None of our programs succeed without community knowledge,” he noted. “We ensure people understand the ‘why’ behind it.”

From Vision to Action

He believes Park City can lead by example once again. “If we leverage the Olympics to invest in energy-efficient infrastructure, transit, and housing, we can position ourselves as a global leader among mountain towns,” he asserted. “The day after the Olympics end, I hope we haven’t made Park City less affordable or accessible, but more intentional and resilient.”

Achieving this, he said, requires both collaboration and courage. “It will demand political will and occasionally tough, divided decisions,” Zegarra added. “But we owe it to our community to move in the direction of our values, rather than pushing challenges down the road.”

A Responsibility to the Next Generation

“I used to work with kids,” Zegarra said. “No one is going to feel the effects of climate change more than the next generation. We have a responsibility to them — to this community’s future.”

He paused, considering what it means for Park City to lead by example. “If we do this right,” he said, “the Olympics won’t just be a celebration of sport — they’ll be proof that a small mountain town can take bold action for the planet and for the people who call it home.”