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« Previous Story | The Industry Report Home Page | Next Story » Optimism Mixes With Sustainability Efforts As Northeast Operators Meet In VermontBy Roger Leo  That relief coincided with an over-riding theme building on NSAA's sustainability programs during this economic downtown. One example of that optimism came from Tom Meyers, veteran marketer with Wachusett Mountain, who said, "We're seeing a strong season. We lost five days to a power outage in mid-December, but night racing and ski school programs are in full swing. We're seeing full parking lots mid-week, which shows a lot of enthusiasm out there despite a tough economy." Judy Dorsey, founder of The Brendle Group that has been working with NSAA since 2000 on sustainability, said economic hard times often create opportunity for change and innovation. She led a seminar on the continued greening of the ski industry through expansion of use of renewable energy, efficiencies in energy consumption, capturing and reusing waste heat, use of alternative fuels, recycling, and other environmentally friendly programs. “Ski resorts find themselves at a place of both opportunity and challenge where economic uncertainty, rising and fluctuating energy costs, concerns about climate change, and efforts to live more sustainably have moved to the forefront of public debate,” Dorsey said. “While few industries are as vulnerable to climate change as the ski industry, resorts have already become a leading voice in battling climate change and other environmental issues and have the opportunity to reach millions of visitors annually,” she said. “As the number of ski areas purchasing renewable energy credits has continued to climb, so has the number of resorts offsetting 100 percent of their electricity needs. To date, 68 resorts are now purchasing green energy for their operations through RECs and 34 of these are offsetting 100 percent of their electricity use with the RECs. These 34 resorts are collectively purchasing 343,459,000 kilowatt hours of green energy, resulting in the avoidance of 497,270,000 pounds of carbon dioxide,” Dorsey said. “While these efforts are significant and commendable, rising energy costs and the consequences of climate change require continued leadership and bold steps. Most participants in the ski industry already realize that proactive environmental management is ultimately more cost-effective than compliance-based environmental management,” she said. “As concerns over climate change grow and the cost of energy increases, resort operators are finding that investments in efficiency and reducing waste are not only good decisions for the environment, they are reaping rewards in terms of reduced operating costs. One of the most compelling reasons for resorts may be the immediate cost savings that result from using less energy, water and materials. By implementing a few relatively simple measures designed to reduce consumption of energy and other resources, resorts can save money on their bottom line that they can then reinvest in other longer-term conservation measures,” Dorsey said. Among the green projects she cited around the country were these: Jiminy Peak’s 1.5 million wind turbine, that can produce 4.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity, more than half the 7 million kilowatt hours Jiminy uses each season; Aspen’s 10.6-kilowat solar array on employee housing and a 150-kilowatt solar array in Carbondale; A 115-kilowatt micro-hydro plant at Snowmass which generates 150,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year, enough to power 25 homes, while preventing the emission of half a million pounds of carbon dioxide. More: Voluntary reporting of greenhouse gas emissions at various resorts, including at Grand Targhee, a founding reporter of The Climate Registry; Park City’s commissioning of the industry’s first comprehensive scientific study of global warming’s effect on the snow sports industry, and subsequent decision of reduce its carbon footprint by 3,000 tons – and then achieving a reduction of 4,000 tons; Attainment of carbon neutral status by Middlebury College Snow Bowl, which purchased carbon offset to compensate for nearly 680 tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2006. Seminar topics included conversion of never-evers to regular skiers and riders; practical ways to save energy; minimizing electronic fraud; employment law; risk management and liability; Ski Patrol operations; ski schools as revenue centers, and lift-served mountain biking operations. Meanwhile up and down the slopes, snow guns were blasting, luring ski industry figures out onto the trails. To be accurate, it was SMI PoleCat fan guns that were blasting away. The PoleCats are the signature snowmaking system chosen by Peak Resorts, owners of Mount Snow, Attitash, and Crotched Mountain and several other resorts around the country, and hosts of the NSAA show. That practical demonstration of the fan guns probably explained the big smile on Joe VanderKelen’s face. VanderKelen is president of SMI Snowmakers, manufacturers of those PoleCats and several other snowmaking guns, and he was at the Trade Show portion of the event along with 85 other exhibitors. It was perfect snowmaking weather. That is to say, dry and cold. Darned cold, with high temps hovering in the single numbers during the day and heading down overnight. What It Means: The buzz of optimism floating around conversations throughout the winter show at this mid-season point, combining with the environmental priority NSAA and its member resorts continue to pursue, bodes well for this industry's ability to weather (pun intended) this current economic Nor'easter and to be here for the next. « Previous Story | The Industry Report Home Page | Next Story » |
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