In The Media - Group grades ski resort responsibility

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Posted by: Community Fuels

11/25/2005

Contra Costa Times (California)--Some ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada have earned low marks from a coalition of environmental groups who say their actions don't follow their words when it comes to fighting global warming.

Friday, November 25, 2005 Group grades ski resort responsibility
Contra Costa Times (California)--Some ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada have earned low marks from a coalition of environmental groups who say their actions don't follow their words when it comes to fighting global warming. In its annual "environmental scorecard," the Ski Area Citizens Coalition said many resorts don't consider the issue of climate change in their management practices. "When you look at the numbers, it is clear that the ski industry's performance on global warming doesn't match its rhetoric," Ben Doon, the coalition's research director, told the Reno Gazette-Journal. A spokesman for the California Ski Industry Association disagreed with the assessment, saying global warming is a big issue for the industry that depends on snow and cold weather. "As far as the industry sticking its head in the sand, that's absolutely myopic and inaccurate," said Bob Roberts of the industry group. Many resorts also questioned the fairness of the annual report and argue that resorts undergoing expansion or improvements are unfairly targeted. The coalition grades resorts based largely on whether any expansions are occurring or planned there. Other factors considered include snowmaking expansion, environmental records and affects on wildlife habitat. Some Sierra resorts fared well this year, with Alpine Meadows and Sierra-at-Tahoe getting 'A' grades. Others fared poorly, with Northstar-at-Tahoe and Kirkwood both earning 'D' grades. "We're incredibly pleased we are receiving recognition for programs we have done at the mountain," said Rachel Woods, spokeswoman at Alpine Meadows, which she said has received an 'A' grade for the past several years. Alpine started an aggressive recycling program years ago, uses biodiesel fuel in its buses and this year purchased a week's worth of wind energy to power its Summit Six chairlift, Woods said. Northstar-at-Tahoe is taking similar steps, but, like last year, received a 'D' grade in the scorecard, spokeswoman Nicole Klay said. She suspects the grade is linked to the resort's recently expanded ski area and construction of a new condominium complex. "We just tend to feel it's biased against the resorts that are undergoing construction," Klay said. "It seems like the bad outweighs the good in terms of what we are trying to do to help the environment." Of 19 ski resorts in California and Nevada examined by the group, only 26 percent are supporting car pool programs to reduce emissions that experts blame for a warming climate, the group said. Twenty-one percent of the resorts are using biodiesel or other alternative fuels, 16 percent use wind or solar energy and 42 percent are supporting legislative efforts to battle climate change, according to the report. "We challenge all ski areas to start cutting their emissions immediately," said Joan Clayburgh, executive director of the Sierra Nevada Alliance, a member of the conservationist coalition. Roberts said the ski association supported 2002 legislation in California designed to address climate warming through increased controls on vehicle emissions.
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