Commercial, Demand Management, Energy Procurement, GHG Emissions, Sourcing Renewables  -  July 26, 2017

Vail Resorts announces net-zero goal

Vail Resorts announced July 25 its commitment to energy reduction and renewable energy powering of its operations as part of its “Epic Promise for a Zero Footprint” program.

The project promotes the sustainable business operation of the Colorado ski resort, and those who the company hopes will eventually follow in its footsteps. The company’s environmental commitments within the project include a goal of zero-net emissions, zero waste to landfill and zero-net operating impact to forests and the surrounding habitat by 2030, according to a news release.

“The environment is our business, and we have a special obligation to protect it,” Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer of Vail Resorts, said in a statement. “As a growing global company so deeply connected to the outdoors, we are making a commitment to address our most pressing global environmental challenges and protect our local communities and natural resources.”

The resort plans to achieve its goal of net-zero emissions in its operations by 2030 by investing $25 million in energy-savings projects in the coming years. Since 2008, the company has reduced electricity and natural gas use by 19% and plans to achieve its 2030 goal by cutting energy use by another 15% through these projects, such as low-energy snowmaking equipment, green building design and construction and more efficient grooming practices and equipment.

Vail Resorts also plans to continue its commitment as a member of both Ceres Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy and the RE100 initiative by purchasing 100% renewable energy equal to its total electrical energy use. It also intends to work with government entities and utilities to provide clean energy to the grids that power Vail’s other resort locations.

The “Epic Promise” plan also includes a campaign with vendors and suppliers on the resort property to encourage these companies to reduce their own emissions and environmental impact.

In its first step toward these goals, Vail Resorts hopes to reduce net emissions by 50% from a 2016 baseline by the year 2025. The company will be updating the public on the project’s progress by releasing a sustainability report after July 2018.

The project will extend beyond just the Vail, Colo., location and reduce the environmental impact of the company’s other resorts in Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada; Perisher in Australia; Stowe in Vermont; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan.

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