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Taos Ski Valley Green Banking Initiatives

Medium Impact Moderate Low Cost 3+ Years

Project Overview

Taos Ski Valley has incorporated green banking initiatives into its overall sustainability strategy, based on the resort’s core mission and values — environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and community wellbeing — encapsulated in its purpose statement: enjoy, protect, give. These commitments naturally led to other actions, including obtaining B Corp Certification and moving beyond sustainable operations into sustainable finance. Through ESG-aligned 401k options for employees, green insurance, and banking with an institution committed to funding fossil-free infrastructure, Taos Ski Valley is using financial levers to create environmental impact.

Sustainable 401K Portfolios

In 2017, Taos Ski Valley collaborated with its investment advisory firm, Abbey Street, to introduce ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) model portfolios as an option within their employees’ 401k plan. Employees can choose from three ESG portfolios tailored to different risk profiles (conservative, moderate, aggressive), directing their retirement investments into green infrastructure rather than conventional assets. The program has been very successful, with ESG funds outperforming traditional portfolio growth, and adoption is growing — particularly among newer staff drawn to Taos Ski Valley for its sustainability commitment.

Premiums for the Planet

Conventional insurance carriers often invest collected premiums into fossil-fuel-based projects. Recognizing this, Taos Ski Valley shifted its main insurance to Premiums for the Planet as its broker of record in 2025 — a certified B Corp brokerage collective that vets insurance providers to make sure premiums are routed away from fossil fuel investments and toward sustainable initiatives, driving market pressure on carriers to provide ESG-aligned insurance options.

Green Bank Options

Taos Ski Valley has banked with a locally owned bank since the company’s inception in 1955. That bank is now fossil-free certified under bank.green, a global initiative that helps individuals and organizations assess the climate impact of their financial institutions and redirect capital away from fossil-fuel-funding banks. By choosing a local bank that aligns with its values, Taos Ski Valley ensures its funds actively support sustainable and regional infrastructure rather than fossil fuel development.

Lessons Learned

  • Employee Choice — Financial changes are an accessible way for organizations to lower their carbon footprint. Employees who aren’t direct decision-makers can still make an impact by proposing and advocating for sustainable financial alternatives to leadership.
  • Fiduciary Scope as Defined by the IRS — Many companies don’t realize they can change or add retirement plan options aligned with ESG goals without compromising fiduciary responsibility, when structured through vetted mutual funds and diversified index models.
  • Phased Approach — Implementing financial changes incrementally, rather than all at once, helped ensure a smooth transition and made proposals more compelling to decision-makers. Aligning with existing plan investment advisors to explore their ESG portfolios is often the easiest first step.