Where to Ski And Snowboard - Squaw to go 100% renewable

Squaw to go 100% renewable

1st February 2018, by Abi Butcher

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows will use 100% renewable energy by December 2018

The Tahoe ski resort of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows in California have vowed to use 100 per cent renewable energy before the end of this year, the first major US ski resort to do so.

Yesterday, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows announced its intention to be powered by 100 per cent clean, renewable energy sources before December 2018 and will be working with the company Liberty Utilities to do so. The resort has been at the forefront of sustainable practice since it was founded, and in February 2016 became the first ski resort to ban the use of single-use plastic water bottles. They have also introduced ride share and carpool incentive programmes.

Liberty Utilities currently uses 25% renewable energy, but intends before the end of the year to develop and deploy a series of projects (such as its Luning solar generation plant) to achieve 100% renewable for Squaw Valley before the end of this year. By making this change, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows will reduce its total annual carbon footprint by nearly 50% — from 13,078 metric tons to an estimated 6,682 metric tons — equivalent to the emissions generated by the annual electric use of 959 homes. The reduction including fuels and other sources unrelated to the power grid,

Greg Sorensen, president of Liberty Utilities’ West Region said: “The fact that Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is such an engaged customer with renewable energy use goals that align with our own is inspirational. We are very supportive of their initiative, which helps accelerate our transition to renewables to benefit customers throughout our service territory.”

The ski resort’s plan is 27 years ahead of renewable energy goals set out by the State of California which aims to have 100% of total retail sales to come from eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources by 31 December 2045.

“We take accountability for our company’s contribution to CO2, hence our longstanding and unyielding internal focus on reducing our overall footprint,” said Andy Wirth, president and COO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. “We’re glad to finally advance on this key, strategic level changeover to 100 percent renewable-sourced energy.”

For more information about the resort’s sustainability programs, visit squawalpine.com/community

To read Where to Ski and Snowboard‘s independent review of Squaw Valley, click here.