Snow is the essential ingredient in winter sports, and ski areas around the country are concerned that global warming could have a serious effect on their business. So they’re taking action to fight the problem on many fronts.

For starters, ski areas are leading by example: using energy efficient technology and increasing the use of renewable energy in their operations -- using wind energy and solar energy to power buildings and lifts, applying energy-efficient building technologies and saving energy by replacing inefficient equipment.

They’re also working with lawmakers to pass sensible, safe limits on global warming pollution and support increased use of clean, renewable energy. That’s because ski and snowboard operators understand that over the long term, investments in cleaner and more efficient technologies will help protect the slopes -- and save money, too.

Backing Legislation

• Ski areas continue to lobby Congress for mandatory caps on GHGs. In the 110th Congress, 73 resorts from 22 states endorsed the Lieberman/Warner bill.
  Download Lieberman/Warner support letter

• With Congress seriously considering climate legislation, more than 70 resorts from 21 states have endorsed the Call to Action of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) -- a group of over 35 leading corporations and environmental organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council. USCAP is calling for market-based US legislation that would achieve science-based emission reductions of 60-80% by 2050 in ways that will create economic opportunities and be environmentally effective.
  Download climate USCAP support letter
• The National Ski Areas Association endorsed a letter of support for the Renewable Portfolio Standard proposed in the Energy Policy Act of 2002.
• The Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association weighed in with their support of mandatory limits on global warming pollution.
  Download Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association Letter
• To find out about getting your ski area involved in backing legislation, contact the NSAA.

Setting the Clean Energy Example

California’s Mammoth Mountain is using solar power to generate electricity and forced air heating in its lift shacks. Mammoth has installed solar heating panels on the lift shack at the top of Thunder Bound Express and in other small, outlying buildings as well.

Northstar-at-Tahoe (Northstar) is offsetting approximately 215,600 pounds of global warming emissions associated with the ski area’s electrical energy use through a substantial purchase of Green Tags (also known as Tradable Renewable Energy Credits) from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Northstar’s Green Tags purchase represents over 150 megawatt-hours of renewable energy produced from non-polluting wind resources located in the Pacific Northwest, equivalent to the annual electricity used by about 180 homes.

Hunter Mountain in New York is purchasing enough Wind Energy Credits to power Hunter's Learning Center for the entire ski season. Purchased through Community Energy, Hunter's new 33,000 square-foot beginners and family Learning Center will be completely wind-powered during the winter ski season.

In Oregon, Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort will purchase enough clean, renewable wind energy to run its Shooting Star Express chairlift this season. Each tag purchased by Meadows supports generation of 1,000 kilowatt-hours of green wind power, and represents prevention of 1,400 pounds of carbon pollution. Mount Hood Meadows' purchase equals 6.7 percent of the company’s average annual power consumption, and will prevent production of 234 tons of carbon pollution.

Timberline is a purchaser of Clean Wind™ from PGE, the local power provider. Timberline pays a premium for PGE to purchase a large percentage of its annual kilowatt usage from the Stateline Wind Farm in Oregon. Timberline is consequently part of the "renewable energy community" locally, and has even been included in coupon books to some 30,000 Portland renewable power customers.

In Utah, The Canyons is using solar powered lighting. The Canyons, Deer Valley and Park City are all participating in Utah Power's Blue Sky Program and are purchasing green wind power for their operations. The resorts will also audit energy use and improve energy efficiency.

In Wyoming, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort powers two of its chairlifts, Moose Creek and Union Pass, with wind power.

Keystone Resort purchases 16,500 kilowatt-hours of renewable wind power per month, the maximum amount available from the local utility. The resort's River Run Information Center is powered by a solar energy system and relies heavily on natural light rather than electric lights during the day.

Vail Mountain buys 300,000 kilowatt-hours per year of wind energy to power the Wildwood Express Lift, eliminating 300 tons of global warming pollution.

In June of 2006 Aspen Skiing Company began purchasing renewable energy certificates from wind farms to offset its electricity use. Combining this new purchase with pre-existing commitments to buy Colorado-created wind power, ASC offsets 100% of its electricity use. Starting in 1997, ASC pioneered ski industry purchases of wind power, when it ran the Cirque lift on 100% wind power. Since 1997, ASC has continually increased renewable energy purchases, which reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 22,000 tons and lead industry efforts to reduce greenhouse has emissions.

Sundance Resort in Utah has committed to replace 10 percent of its conventional power with wind power, placing the resort at Utah Wind Power's Champion Level. In addition to powering almost all of its lifts with green power, Sundance will be providing free public transportation to pass holders, offering a discount to carpooling guests, and using energy-efficient lighting throughout the resort.

Helping Skiers Help the Planet

Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) joined with the Bonneville Environment Foundation to offer guests SkiGreen tags to offset a portion of the carbon dioxide emissions generated in their travel to the resorts four mountains, Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. In addition, guests of ASC's The Little Nell hotel are offered the opportunity to contribute $2 to the Aspen Valley Land Trust when they check out. The ski company also recently announced its intention to educate its guests on the impacts of climate change upon the ski industry through a national marketing campaign and website. Lastly, the Aspen Skiing Company is providing each of its ski/snowboard instructors and ambassadors with a small informational card (attached to their ski pass) detailing five things a guest can do at home to reduce their carbon footprint.

Guests of Northstar-at-Tahoe are encouraged to join in and support the ski area’s efforts to reduce global warming pollution. Through its partnership with Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Northstar offers its customers a chance to add a full or Mini-Green Tag to their lift pass in order to help offset the vehicle emissions associated with their trip to the ski area. This means visitors to Northstar can now “Ski Pollution Free.”

In Colorado, Steamboat will be rewarding skiers and riders for carpooling or riding mass transit and reducing global warming pollutants. Skiers and riders arriving at the ski resort in high occupancy vehicles (HOV's) on Saturday will receive an informational flier and will be entered into prize drawing to win a snowboard, a First Tracks Powder Clinic and a Specialty Ski Clinic.

Telluride is offering a 2004/2005 ski pass to one participant in its event, “Passport to Environmental Awareness.” Stations will be set-up around the mountain at places of environmental interest, and educators will be present at stations to explain the details of each conservation effort.

For the 2004 ski season, Mt. Hood Meadows season pass purchasers have been encouraged to buy a $20 Green Tag through the ski area's website, as a way for them to indirectly offset the impact of global warming pollution from car travel to and from the mountain.

The Canyons will have Utah Clean Energy Alliance staff on hand to sign guests up to purchase wind power on Sustainable Slopes outreach day. Each guest that signs up for wind power will receive a $20 Off Voucher for The Canyons.

Deer Valley will make information available to guests in their lobby on the Keep Winter Cool campaign. Resort guests will be able to sign up to purchase wind power for their homes through Utah Power.

Arapahoe Basin has worked to support carpooling and public transportation in an effort to reduce global warming pollutants. Guests that ride to Arapahoe Basin with four or more people in their car are eligible for a 40 percent discount on lift tickets. Additionally, the ski area has provided a link on its website to Skicarpool.com, a website dedicated to promoting ride-sharing opportunities to ski areas. Working with the Summit Stage, Arapahoe Basin has supported a free transportation link between the ski area and Summit County communities.

Sugarbush Resort in Vermont is participating in the "10 percent Challenge," a regional program of businesses who have volunteered to reduce their global warming pollution by at least 10 percent. IBM's Burlington campus also joined the effort. "Challenge" organizers as well as the Friends of the Mad River, the Mad River Path Association, and the US Forest Service have been invited to help educate Sugarbush guests on the importance of preserving the outdoors.