Wynn Resorts appoints first chief sustainability officer

Wynn Resorts recently announced the appointment of Erik Hansen as the first chief sustainability officer at the Las Vegas-based company. In this newly-created role, Hansen is responsible for the development of the company’s global sustainability strategy and energy procurement goals. “Erik has proven to be a visionary as we continue to deepen our company’s sustainability strategy and make monumental moves towards taking control of our energy future,” said Kim Sinatra, EVP and general counsel for Wynn Resorts. “His experience extends across all facets of environmental protection and government regulation, and his understanding of cutting-edge technologies will continue to shape our use of a new generation of renewable resources,” added Sinatra. Originally serving as director of Energy Procurement for Wynn Resorts since 2016, Hansen has been instrumental in instituting several large-scale sustainability and renewable energy projects that have moved Wynn Resorts into a leadership position in environmental stewardship. Most notable have been the negotiation, build, and opening of the 160-acre 20 MW Wynn Solar Facility; management of Wynn Las Vegas’ shift to the open energy market; and the creation of an energy supply plan that integrates the first micro grid to be implemented at an individual resort at the Encore Boston Harbor property. Hansen has more than 25 years of experience, and is a current member of the Nevada Governor’s Committee on Energy Choice. He began his career in the energy industry at NV Energy where he spent more than 10 years in various capacities including power trading, transmission policy and contracts, business development, and project leadership. Before joining Wynn Resorts, Hansen served as VP at EnergySource, where he represented a broad base of Nevada’s largest energy customers across industries including mining, gaming, data centres, utilities, and technology.