Vail Resorts Eschews Wind Power

Vail at Dusk

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Photo by: Jack Affleck/Vail Resorts

Vail Resorts has decided to forgo buying wind energy credits, opting instead to use that money for reforestation efforts in fire-damaged areas of Colorado's Front Range. The resort will match $750,000 the U.S. Forest Service is putting into areas affected by 2002's Hayman fire, Colorado's largest-ever forest fire that burned over 137,000 acres, as well as 1,500 hours of resort-employee work "on the ground." The area is an important Colorado watershed, and Vail's move was applauded by conservation groups like the Nature Conservancy -- though some wind proponents were disappointed by the switch. For its part, Vail argues that one of the original goals of its wind power program, promoting alternative energy use, has been more than accomplished. When Vail first began purchasing wind credits, it was the second-largest such purchaser. Now, Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz told Colorado's Summit Daily newspaper, Vail probably ranks 28th, belying its role as an early adopter.

Vail at Dusk

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