By Matt Lorelli September 13, 2022 1:45 pm

By Matt Lorelli | September 13, 2022 1:45 pm ET

Taos Ski Valley, NM dropped some big news this afternoon. The resort has officially gained CarbonNeutral® certification making it one, if not the most, environmentally responsible ski resort in the country.

Here are three major steps Taos has taken to reduce their carbon footprint:

Resort operations like chairlifts and snowmaking use 100 percent renewable daytime solar power through a partnership with the local utility. Taos has also invested in 207 high-efficiency snow guns, which further reduce energy and water use.

Many older buildings have been retrofitted to reduce their energy impact, while newer buildings have been built with clean energy as a priority. For instance, the LEED-certified Blake Hotel uses geothermal wells and ground source heat pumps to heat and cool the building.

Taos has invested heavily in electrifying its fleet of vehicles, including snowmobiles and cars. Additionally, this winter, Taos Ski Valley will be the first ski resort in North America to deploy an all-electric snowcat.

Here’s hoping more resorts follow Taos’ lead. Investing in renewable energy sources, vehicles, and energy-efficient technology is a win for everybody.

Check out the full press release from Taos Ski Valley below:

Major investments in reducing energy use on-mountain, in buildings, and by vehicles contribute to significant milestone toward zero emission goals

TAOS, NM – Sept. 13, 2022 – Taos Ski Valley, Inc. today announced that is has become a certified CarbonNeutral® company by Climate Impact Partners, which, coupled with its status as the world’s first and only certified B Corporation®, confirms Taos as an industry leader in environmental and social responsibility. While Taos has achieved CarbonNeutral® certification, it will continue its ongoing, long-term effort to minimize its actual carbon emissions.

“CarbonNeutral® certification is the first step in our greater goal of significantly reducing our carbon emissions without using offsets,” said Taos Ski Valley CEO David Norden. “To achieve this milestone, we conducted a rigorous audit to fully understand our carbon footprint, so now we are poised for the next steps of further cutting greenhouse gasses. While we still have work to do to achieve our reduced carbon emission goals, we are thrilled to achieve this significant milestone on our journey. This is the right thing to do for all stakeholders, including our local community and our guests.”

Taos is working with Climate Impact Partners to offset its greenhouse gas emissions with projects that cut carbon and deliver sustainable development impacts. In addition to utilizing carbon offsets in its portfolio of carbon reduction strategies, Taos’ initiatives focus on three key areas of energy use: renewable power, electric vehicles, and efficient buildings. Following Climate Impact Partners’ rigorous CarbonNeutral Protocol, as well as the National Ski Areas Association Climate Challenge, Taos has effectively defined, measured, targeted, and reduced its carbon footprint. Some of those reduction measures include:

“We have a detailed, highly rigorous plan to work towards zero emissions, which stipulates  measurable, achievable investments and business changes,” said Matthew Weyer, Taos Ski Valley’s NetZero 2030 manager. “Taos Ski Valley is committed to this at every possible level and makes all decisions with sustainability at the forefront. Because of this focus, Taos is leading the industry in energy reduction, and we’re thrilled to achieve this CarbonNeutral® designation from the distinguished and prestigious Climate Impact Partners.”

Sustainability at Taos Ski Valley

Other sustainability initiatives at Taos contribute to its overall environmental leadership:

Taos Ski Valley’s journey towards zero emissions will require more of the same in the years ahead: continuing to increase building energy efficiency, adopting more electric vehicle and equipment technology, utilizing more renewable energy and onsite renewable generation, and adopting battery storage for grid resilience and to store renewable energy.

In addition to its emissions reduction work, Taos Ski Valley is continually investing resources toward forest maintenance to protect the mountain and mitigate fire and watershed impacts. This year alone, the resort thinned dead and diseased trees on 320 acres of at-risk forested lands. This work will help reduce potential fires, improve habitat for wildlife, and protect watersheds.  The forestry work is a collaborative effort with the Carson National Forest and the Taos Valley Watershed Coalition. The intent of the thinning work is to create a fire break to better protect the Village of Taos Ski Valley and the Rio Hondo watershed and to improve forest health to better withstand wildland fire threats.  What’s more, it offers enhanced skiing and riding terrain.

Passes and Activity Highlights for Winter 23

While its industry leading environmental stewardship is paramount, Taos Ski Valley will also offer guests an extraordinary Winter 23 experience. This winter, walk-up day tickets will be $195 for adults and $155 for youth. Taos will offer impressive discounts when day tickets are purchased 72 hours or more in advance. For these pre-sale tickets, costs will start at just $95 on weekdays and $135 on weekends for adults, and $65 on weekdays and $95 on weekends for youth. As always, 80+ and children under 6 are free, and Taos offers discounts for first responders and active military. Tickets will be available for purchase online beginning Sept. 27, 2022.

Families and beginner skiers and riders will also find new offerings. Childcare for ages 0-3 has returned this season, as well as Pre-K lessons, which are now available for even younger aspiring athletes – just 3-6 years old. Additionally, a new 250-foot moving carpet will replace the two older models on the beginner hill. This carpet will be utilized within a new design for Taos’ perfect progression approach, which uses purpose-built snow features to help assist new skiers and riders by naturally controlling their speed.

Other activities and offerings that guests can look forward to returning this winter:

Getting to Taos has never been more convenient, as the easy and affordable Taos Air – The Easiest Route to the Rockies – will resume its roundtrip winter flights from Dallas, Austin, Carlsbad, Calif., and Hawthorne, Calif. beginning in December and flying through April 3, 2023.

The Blake at Taos Ski Valley continues to be the most popular and sophisticated lodging experience, and guests can choose one of the well-appointed and comfortable hotel rooms, or a three or four-bedroom penthouse complete with a full kitchen and large-scale living room. One, two, and three-bedroom vacation rentals are also available at The Blake Residences.

“In Taos, visitors will find the pure mountain experience: fresh powder, short lines, unabashed fun, and memories to last a lifetime,” said Norden. “And visitors can be confident that they are patronizing a business that is for the good – the good of the planet, our people, and this place.”

Taos Ski Valley’s opening day is planned for Thursday, November 24, 2022 and the season will run through April 9, 2023.

Nestled among the pristine peaks of northern New Mexico, Taos Ski Valley is undergoing a $300 million renaissance making it one of North America’s premier vacation and adventure destinations. With more than 300 inches of average annual snowfall, 300 days of sunshine and more than 1,200 skiable acres, Taos Ski Valley is the industry’s only B Corp Certified ski resort, and is also a CarbonNeutral® certified business, which means it operates with the highest standards of environmental sustainability, and social and economic justice. An independently owned and operated resort, Taos maintains an authentic charm while delivering a world-class experience both on-mountain and off for skiers and riders of all abilities. Taos Ski Valley is proud to participate in the Mountain Collective and Ikon Pass. To learn more about Taos Ski Valley and its B Corp commitment or net zero goals, please visit www.skitaos.com.

Climate Impact Partners is a leader in developing and delivering highquality, high-impact carbon market solutions for climate action. For more than 20 years, the company, which is committed to delivering 1 billion tonnes of CO2 reductions by 2030, has worked with climate-leading businesses to support more than 600 carbon removal and reduction projects in 56 countries. With a focus on helping to transform the global economy, improve health and livelihoods and restore a thriving planet, Climate Impact Partners develops and delivers the highest quality carbon financed projects. It creates and manages carbon credit and energy attribute certificate portfolios that enable its clients to offset emissions they can’t yet reduce, put a price on carbon to incentivize change, and meet ambitious climate goals. Climate Impact Partners builds on the expertise, integrity, and innovation of two companies that have led the voluntary carbon market – Natural Capital Partners and ClimateCare. Learn more at climateimpact.com

All Images Credit: Taos Ski Valley, NM

ski area news, ski industry news, ski news, ski resort news, Skiing, Skiing News, taos, taos ski valley, Skiing, Snowboarding, Taos

Patagonia Produced My Favorite Tree Skiing Segment of All Time

Why Every Skier Should Know How To Apply A Tourniquet

The Indy Pass *Shatters* Previous Record For Pass Sales

September 16, 2022 2:36 pm ET · By: Francis Xavier

Honestly still wrapping my head around this surf clip from San Clemente, California.  How this dude was able to regain control seems (…)

September 16, 2022 12:21 pm ET · By: Francis Xavier

Looking to improve your onslope safety training as we wait for winter get underway? Take a minute to watch this video and begin to (…)

September 16, 2022 12:04 pm ET · By: Matt Lorelli

An absolutely stunning scene was captured by a traveler to Banff, Alberta recently. They used their camera to record a timelapse of (…)

September 16, 2022 11:28 am ET · By: Francis Xavier

“Hiking up heard a ‘whumpf’ ( the noise of a weak layer collapsing in the snowpack), saw no fracturing, thought that’s (…)

September 16, 2022 11:17 am ET · By: Matt Lorelli

Yellowstone National Park does an excellent job of placing signage to warn guests abut the extremely dangerous thermal areas of the park. (…)

September 16, 2022 10:55 am ET · By: Francis Xavier

“Another volcano this summer, this one erupted in 1980, Mt. St. Helens! Was super fun to hike this with the fam and get some (…)

September 16, 2022 10:11 am ET · By: Matt Lorelli

The video below shows a kayaker having an incredible encounter with a pod of Orca whales in Eld Inlet in Olympia, WA. I’ve embedded the clip (…)

Lindsey Vonn Congratulates Roger Federer For An Astonishing Career

Starlink Provides Service To Antarctic Research Station, Now Accessed On All 7 Continents

Did You Know There's A Secret Valley Hidden Behind Mount Rushmore?

Colorado Guides Receive National Bravery Award For Saving Climber's Life On Denali

Reckless Skier Causes Crash After Entering Trail From Unmarked Glade (Watch)

Two Idiotic Hikers Fined For Getting Stuck On Ledge In New Hampshire

WATCH: Majestic Orcas Swim Within Feet Of Kayaker