Val Thorens Limits Artificial Snow Production

Val Thorens is limiting artificial snow production this Winter, as part of a national effort in France to reduce energy consumption.

That's according to a Reuters report in the Guardian. It says that electricity bills could be 3 to 6 times higher than in previous years.

As well as deploying snow cannons more sparingly, Val Thorens will reduce heating within buildings.

Another measure is aimed at early running of the lifts for lift company and restaurant staff. There used to be a one-hour time slot for such personnel to go up the mountain in the morning, but now it will be reduced to 10 minutes.

Reuters quotes Benjamin Blanc of Les 3 Vallées as follows:

'[These measures] will be invisible and painless for our customers. The objective is to make sure they don't feel the impact of the energy cuts.'

Val Thorens had already signed an energy contract with EDF for most of this Winter before prices went up, so it won't feel the pain as much as some other resorts.

Head of the Val Thorens lift company SETAM said, 'We are mountain people. Our motto is that we always get out of difficult situations, and it will be the case this time again, because we will adapt.'

That's all very well as long as it doesn't translate to complacency and denial. Global heating is here and wreaking havoc, and there is a limit to how much anyone will be able to adapt to it.