By David Hill

Lakewood, CO - The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has released its eighth Sustainable Slopes Annual Report detailing the U.S. ski and snowboard resort industry’s progress in implementing the principles of its Environmental Charter during the 2007-08 winter season.

The primary focus of the Sustainable Slopes program this season was continuing to promote the industry’s Green Power program that supports renewable energy purchases and development by resorts and resort guests.

To date, 68 U.S. ski resorts are now purchasing green energy for their operations through renewable energy credits. Of these resorts, 34 are offsetting 100 percent of their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Collectively, these resorts are purchasing more than
351,381,000 kilowatts (kWh) of green power annually resulting
in the avoidance of 499,499,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2).
To add perspective to these CO2 reductions, it is reported that
eliminating 25 pounds of CO2 emissions each year is equal to
planting one tree.

Mountain Resort, Killington Resort in Vermont, Oregon’s Mt.
Bachelor Resort and the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, among
others, is among those ski resort operators turning to 100%
renewable energy. The company in April announced its plans to
purchase 50 million kWh of renewable energy credits (RECs) that
began in June.

“We are passionate about the snowsports industry and the
quality of life it provides to our families, team members and
guests,” said Brent Giles, director of environmental affairs
for Powdr Corp. “Our commitment to offset 100 percent of our
resorts power from renewable energy sources is another step in
the right direction to sustain our mountain lifestyle for years
to come.”

The Colorado ski resort town of Breckenridge in April purchased
6,511 RECs to offset the electrical energy consumption of its
infrastructure.

“Our community is a unique resource and we want to work
together to sustain it,” said Tim Gagen, town manager for the
Town of Breckenridge. “Purchasing wind energy offsets is one of
the arrows in the quiver of all of the things we’ve been doing.
Both the Town Council and the employees supported this
initiative.”

Some ski resorts in the U.S. have taken renewable energy a step
further. Jiminy Peak Resort in western Massachusetts is the
continent’s first to build its own wind turbine to help power
the resort and pump energy back into the grid. Kirkwood
Mountain Resort, south of Lake Tahoe in California, has
partnered with its utility provider Mountain Utilities to plan
a wind energy farm for the ski resort and residents in the
Kirkwood Valley.

Jiminy Peak’s project to build its 1.5 megawatt GE wind
turbine, dubbed “Zephyr” took three years and $3.9 million and
is expected to pay for itself within seven year. The turbine,
which a 328 feet is taller than the Statue of Liberty, was
expected to reduce the ski resort’s energy costs by 49.4
percent in 2007-08, according to Jiminy Peak president and CEO
Brian Fairbank.

To date, 187 U.S. ski resorts have endorsed the NSAA
Environmental Charter, representing more than 75 percent of the
ski resorts nationally by skier visits.

Upon endorsing the Charter, these resorts have identified an
environmental contact person, assessed their policies and
operations against the Environmental Principles in the Charter,
and have taken steps toward improved environmental performance.

In addition to its member ski resorts, NSAA continues to
purchase RECs together with the National Ski Patrol and the
Professional Ski Instructors Association/American Association
of Snowboard Instructors to offset 100 percent of the
greenhouse gas emissions associated with operating the
organization’s office space and storage warehouse in Lakewood.

For the past two years, the energy use associated with NSAA’s
National Convention and Trade Show has been offset by RECs
donated by Renewable Choice Energy. Additionally, Community
Energy donated RECs to offset energy use associated with NSAA’s
Eastern Winter Conference.