Vail Resorts has confirmed their plan to have zero net emissions across their portfolio by 2030 in their ‘Epic Promise’

Increase in renewables

The plan means that all 34 of Vail’s US resorts aim to be 93% powered by renewable electricity by 2023.

The change will be driven by two major renewable energy projects. The Plum Creek Wind project was announced in July 2020 and involves a 12-year commitment to purchase 310,000 MWhs annually.

The company just announced the 80 MW Elektron Solar project – located 60 miles west of Salt Lake City – which will provide renewable energy for 100% of Park City’s demands.

The company remains on track to reach its energy efficiency goal, thanks to investments like high-efficiency snow guns and, this year, $600,000 for installation of LED lighting across several resorts and energy audits at all three Tahoe resorts.

Waste Reduction on target

The company also reported that their 50% waste diversion subgoal, has been achieved nearly a year ahead of schedule, by reducing landfill waste and increasing composting and recycling.

Some initiatives in waste reduction and diversion include:

  • Continuing to reduce cups sent to landfill by transitioning to washable tumblers and compostable cups
  • Utilizing more compostable packaging
  • Diverting additional organics through composting and anaerobic digestion at Colorado and Utah resorts to align with newly available community facilities
  • Building more efficient waste collection and transportation systems by investing in improved snow cats, loading docks, compactors and scales
  • Increasing collection and tracking of alternate categories of diversion such as electronics, batteries, light bulbs, and flexible packaging
  • Updating and deploying resort-wide messaging about Commitment to Zero to educate guests and encouragewaste reduction and diversion
  • Registering for TRUE Zero Waste Certification for all restaurants at Whistler Blackcomb
  • Donating more than 50,000 pounds of excess food to 30 local food banks, schools, and community organizations following the early resort closures due to COVID-19