Vail, Colo., is a town that’s defined by winter, when tourists from around the world descend on the area’s snow-covered slopes to ski, ride, and soak up the laid-back yet glitzy mountain lifestyle. But as the threat of global warming has begun to creep closer to the Colorado high country, Vail has been forced to develop another reputation, one based less on celebrity sightings and more on sustainable policy choices. Sure, it’s still a world-famous resort town with a past that’s less than green-friendly, but these days the area’s 4,500 year-round residents are on a mission to become one of the most environmentally progressive communities in the U.S.
Vail: cleaning its energy and its image.
Photo: iStockphoto
The latest step in this effort took place in August, when officials announced plans to offset all of the town’s municipal operations by buying wind power credits from a Boulder-based broker.
It’s a move that will, over the next three years, offset approximately 20 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and prevent 28 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. For t... Read more
