Alta Ski Area is a Visionary Partner with Rocky Mountain Power through the Blue Sky program. Our choice to participate in clean, renewable wind power is our promise to purchase 900,000 kilowatt-hours (kwh) for the next 12- month period, offsetting over 23% of Alta’s energy consumption. The environmental impact is equivalent to avoiding 900 tons of CO2 emissions per year. “It is the right thing to do,” remarks Alta’s President and General Manager, Onno Wieringa. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with this program to take our commitment to the next level.”
Alta is working with Clif Bar http://www.clifbar.com/ and the SkiGreen™ program from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation www.skigreen.org to make our Sugarloaf lift a ‘Green Lift.” Clif Bar, a company dedicated to restoring and sustaining our environment, and one who supports others who do so, will work with us in purchasing renewable energy certificates through SkiGreen. Offsetting the energy used to run this lift translates to another 11% of Alta’s energy consumption covered by renewable energy, bringing the total to 34%. Alta skiers will also have the opportunity to support renewable energy. Through SkiGreen, skiers can purchase a $2.00 SkiGreen Tag at specified Alta locations. These dollars purchase clean wind energy on their behalf.
Alta is the first and only ski resort to become a member of Salt Lake City’s environmental e2 program that recognizes businesses for their efforts to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2005 we completed an energy audit with Rocky Mountain Power and have implemented changes, including switching to fluorescent light bulbs and using radiant heat and timers on lift terminals. Summer, 2005 we replaced the Watson Shelter mid-mountain restaurant with planning based off the energy audit. Our goal was to create an efficient, sustainable, high-performance building and inform the public on steps we are taking to integrate environmentally sound practices into our Alta community.
Alta will continue to educate our employees and public about the value of our environmental efforts and impacts on global warming. Says Wieringa, “ We continue to challenge our managers and employees to come up with new ideas to be more energy efficient.” Alta’s Environmental Report can be viewed online at www.alta.com. The report lists more accomplishments and enduring efforts we have made during the last two decades to remedy past environmental impacts and to integrate sustainable environmental practices into our everyday operations.
Alta Ski Area is dedicated to sustainable environmental practices – learning from the past, being guided by best-management practices now, and leading with innovation and research into the future.
Links:
http://www.utahpower.net/Homepage/Homepage66524.html
http://www.slcgreen.com/pages/e2list.htm
