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Environmental

NSAA’S 2017 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

Climate Change Action & New Grants Underscore Industry’s Commitment to Sustainability

BY GERALDINE LINK, NSAA DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY

NSAA HAS RELEASED ITS 17th Sustainable Slopes Annual
Report detailing the ski industry’s progress in implement-
Many ski areas
ing the principles of its Environmental Charter during the
endorsed the
2016-17 season.
We Are Still In
The report highlights results of the industry’s Climate
Challenge Program, in which resorts voluntarily inventory, open letter to
target, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) the international community and parties
and engage in advocacy on climate change solutions. Also to the Paris Climate Agreement signed by
included is an update on the Sustainable Slopes Grant thousands of businesses across the coun-
Program, which helps provide funding and other services to
try along with state and local governments
support ski area sustainability initiatives.
and universities. Endorsers stated that in
“More now than ever, resorts are making climate action
the absence of Washington leadership,
a priority in their operations and advocacy,” said NSAA
President Michael Berry. they are joining forces for the first time
The Climate Challenge Program, now in its sixth year, to declare continued support for climate
provides technical support and recognition to ski areas that action to meet the Paris Agreement.
are developing carbon inventories, setting goals for carbon
reduction, and measuring success in reducing their overall
carbon footprint. Participating resorts are: The Annual Report highlights that in 2016-17, Scope 1
and 2 emissions totaled 204,477 MTCO e for all Climate
• Alpine Meadows • Killington Resort 2
Challengers. Participating resorts implemented on-site
• Alta Ski Area • Lutsen Mountains
projects that reduced emissions by 2,424 MTCO e and
• Arapahoe Basin • Mammoth Mountain Ski Area 2
purchased RECs equivalent to 33,024 MTCO e. The
• Aspen Highlands • Mont Tremblant* 2
cumulative impact of on-site projects since 2011 (which
• Aspen Mountain • Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort
accrue annual reductions for the life of the project) totals
• Beaver Valley Ski Club • Mt. Bachelor
44,064 MTCO e reduction. The cumulative total of all
2
• Boreal Mountain Resort • Pico Mountain REC purchases since 2011 is 190,847 MTCO e. Together,
2
• Bridger Bowl Mountain Resort* • Soda Springs the cumulative impact of all on-site Climate Challenge
• Buttermilk • Snowbird projects plus REC purchases since 2011 is 234,911
• Copper Mountain Resort • Snowmass MTCO e in reduction.
2
• Deer Valley Resort • Steamboat Ski & Resort The Sustainable Slopes Grant Program is now in its
• Eldora Mountain Resort* • Stratton eighth year of providing seed money and in-kind donations
• Grand Targhee Resort • Squaw Valley to support important ski area sustainability projects. New
• Granite Peak • Sugarbush Resort this year, Ultra-Tech Lighting awarded an in-kind grant of
™
• Hunter Mountain • Taos Ski Valley 10 Snow-Bright light fixtures to Granite Peak Ski Area,
• Jackson Hole Mountain Resort • Telluride Ski & Golf Resort Wisc., which will result in savings up to 85 percent over
• Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort • Timberline Lodge & Ski Area conventional lighting in operating electricity.
• June Mountain • Winter Park Resort* Also new this year, Arapahoe Basin, Colo., is
receiving the benefits of an in-kind consulting service
*Resorts joining the Climate Challenge beginning with the 2017-18 season.

18 | NSAA JOURNAL | EARLY WINTER 2017