President Václav Klaus (pictured above) is a keen skier who wants to be the first on the new controversial lift when it opens.

Czech Republic Environment Minister Tomáš Chalupa (ODS) has given the light in draft zoning law to build a ski lift in protected Šumava National Park despite environmental reports reporting the project should not proceed.

Continue reading ‘Controversial plans to link Czech Republic and Austria by ski lift angers environmentalists’

Another ski resort in Bulgaria is coming under harsh scrutiny by environmental groups.

The company that runs the Vitosha ski area, the main Bulgarian ski centre for the country’s capital Sofia, has said it won’t open the ski centre this winter as the long-running conflict between environmental groups and ski resort operators intensifies. Continue reading ‘Environmental groups and ski resorts standoff in Bulgaria’

A skier trains takes a run at Snow World Landraaf.

The Dutch Snowworld indoor snow centre operators have announced plans to invest 40-50 million euros ($64m USD) to build two new facilities in France and Spain by 2014. Continue reading ‘SnowWorld plans major expansion to France and Spain’

Skier powers down a run powered by Siemens technology.

Electronics giant Siemens invested heavily into winter sports events and is now finally seeing the dividends with more than 600 million Euros (850 million USD) in orders for the Sochi 2014 that include new trains, and a new power plant that will provide most of the electricity during the Games. Continue reading ‘Boom in winter sport investments paying off dividends for Siemens’

A new green hotel has opened above the La Plagne village of Montalbert complete with a private ski lift to the main Paradiski area (www.capvacances.com/La-Plagne). Continue reading ‘New Eco-friendly hotel opens up in Plagne-Montalbert’

The knives are out for the resignation of top Bulgarian officials since the approval to develop into the Pirin National Park, a world UNESCO heritage site.

Pressure and heavy handed lobbying to stop further development of Bulgaria’s Pirin mountain range, a UNESCO world heritage site from over expansion, have lead members of the national Green Party to demand the resignation of the Minister of Environment, Nona Karadzhova, and her Deputy, Evdokiya Maneva along with the Director of the National Office for Nature Conservation, Mihail Mihaylov, after the government gave the green light to expand operations throughout the park. Continue reading ‘Bulgaria’s Green Party demand government resignations over ski expansions’

Taos to introduce carbon energy credits this year.

Taos Ski Valley in the US has opted to lower the impact of 100 percent of its energy usage through carbon offsets from Renewable Choice Energy, one of the US’s leading providers of energy and environmental solutions for businesses and consumers. Continue reading ‘Taos applies Carbon offset for its energy’