A 100% renewable energy-powered ski resort in Colorado
Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort has run on 100% renewable energy since October of 2023. We spoke to their sustainability team to learn more about how they did it and why it was important mission for them.
We heard A-Basin a Colorado ski resort powered by 100% renewable energy.
So, we called Mike Nathan, the resort’s sustainability manager to hear how and why they did it.
According to Mike, they’ve made serious commitments to reducing their environmental footprint through various initiatives.
There are solar panels visible on buildings, solar arrays (groups of solar panels) on the property and electric vehicle (EV) chargers powered by the on-site solar.
While A-Basin is proud of their on-site solar with the physically highest solar array in North America, the panels only provide about 2% of the resort’s total energy needs.
So how is A-Basin powered by 100% renewable energy?
A-Basin has been tracking their renewable energy usage for the last 10 seasons.
They conducted an audit to discern where the resort was producing the most emissions. Like most ski operations, they discovered that a majority of their total greenhouse gas emissions (about 60-70%) came from electricity consumption.
The sustainability team concluded that they could make the most impactful change by sourcing their energy from renewables. They got right to work exploring options, which led them to their utility Xcel Energy.
A-Basin meets their 100% renewable goal with a big focus on Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from Xcel Energy. RECs currently offer businesses and individuals the opportunity to buy into renewable energy where it would be otherwise impossible.
Here’s how REC works – because there’s no way to track exactly where energy comes from once it enters the grid, REC’s serve as a way to account for renewable energy purchases made by consumers.
The cost? According to Mike, going 100% renewable hasn’t broken the bank.
Grants and bill credits have allowed them to pay roughly the same amount for renewable energy as they would for non-renewable.
In addition to subsidies, the cost of renewables are just going down. For example, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency, 81% of utility-scale renewable projects in 2023 were cheaper than their fossil fuel alternatives.
One notable exception for A-Basin is the energy they purchase from Jacks Solar Garden, which has a higher premium because it’s an agrivoltaic research center. Agrivoltaics is a form of mixed land use that combines agriculture and solar energy production. A-Basin justifies the higher price because the efficiency and benefits of research-oriented energy production is a social good they’re interested in promoting and investing in. According to Jack Solar Garden about 10% of all energy produced at the agrivoltaic site is purchased by A-Basin.
Going beyond 100% renewable
According to Mike, while A-Basin has successfully cut their largest source of emissions – electricity consumption — they aren’t done there.
They have committed to replacing all aging machinery and tools with electric versions, including their snowcats, car and truck fleets. And, as upgrades are needed, A-Basin is replacing kitchen appliances and heating systems with electric, 100% renewable energy powered versions.
In addition to these all electric upgrades, A-Basin has plans to add more on-site solar. Mike says every remodel, upgrade and new building will include a solar installation further bolstering the on-site energy production.
Why did Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort go 100% renewable?
Mike from Arapahoe Basin acknowledged that climate change threatens the existence of ski resorts like theirs. If climate change isn’t fully addressed, there may not be much of a ski season – a scary thought for many Coloradans and outdoor enthusiasts everywhere.
While Arapahoe Basin knows they are a “drop in the bucket” when it comes to eliminating emissions, they also know that they’re a popular stop for Colorado tourists. A-Basin understands the power of education and visibility, and that leading by example and demonstrating that 100% renewable energy is possible can have a domino effect.
They set out to prove that if 100% renewable energy can be achieved at Arapahoe Basin, it can be achieved anywhere.
Topics
Authors
Danny Katz
Executive Director, CoPIRG Foundation
Danny has been the director of CoPIRG for over a decade. Danny co-authored a groundbreaking report on the state’s transit, walking and biking needs and is a co-author of the annual “State of Recycling” report. He also helped write a 2016 Denver initiative to create a public matching campaign finance program and led the early effort to eliminate predatory payday loans in Colorado. Danny serves on the Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT) Efficiency and Accountability Committee, CDOT's Transit and Rail Advisory Committee, RTD's Reimagine Advisory Committee, the Denver Moves Everyone Think Tank, and the I-70 Collaborative Effort. Danny lobbies federal, state and local elected officials on transportation electrification, multimodal transportation, zero waste, consumer protection and public health issues. He appears frequently in local media outlets and is active in a number of coalitions. He resides in Denver with his family, where he enjoys biking and skiing, the neighborhood food scene and raising chickens.
Henry Stiles
Advocate, Environment Colorado Research & Policy Center
Henry leads Environment Colorado’s campaigns to reduce waste and protect wildlife and open spaces. He is a bird watcher and amateur wildlife photographer, which is what drew him in to doing environmental work. Henry also serves on the board for Colorado Field Ornithologists as the Conservation Committee Chair.
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