Bonneville Environmental Foundation Partners with the National Ski Areas Association to Support Sustainability By Promoting Renewable Energy

February 18, 2004 (Portland, Ore.) — The non-profit Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) announced today its participation as a partner in ‘Sustainable Slopes' – the Environmental Charter for Ski Areas. Developed and administered by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), Sustainable Slopes is a blueprint for ski areas seeking to manage their businesses in a way that demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship while providing the high quality outdoor recreation experience that their guests expect.

BEF currently acts as a resource and supplier of renewable energy (including wind, solar and biomass) to utilities, individuals and corporations located across the U.S, including several ski areas. In 2000, BEF pioneered the concept of ‘Green Tags' (also known as Tradable Renewable Energy Certificates), which makes supporting renewable energy an option for consumers everywhere, independent of their electric utility or their geographic location.

"Over the past year, we have seen over a dozen ski areas across the U.S. supporting renewable energy as a way to meet their sustainability goals," commented Angus Duncan, President of BEF. "Joining the Sustainable Slopes Charter allows us to foster this interest and to make ski area operators aware of the many options available for supporting renewable energy. Our goal is to create informed ‘green power' customers who can meet their sustainability goals while reducing our nation's reliance on energy produced through burning fossil fuels."

"This is a very timely issue for NSAA and we are pleased to have BEF as a resource available to our members," said Geraldine Link, public policy director of NSAA. "Several years ago, purchasing green power was fairly uncommon among ski areas operators. Now a host of ski areas across the country are either currently supporting renewables or seriously considering how it fits within their operation."

Ski areas now supporting renewable energy through BEF Green Tags include Mt. Hood Meadows & Cooper Spur Resort, Oregon; Northstar-at-Tahoe, California; and Timberline Lodge, Oregon.

In addition to Green Tags for ski areas, both Meadows and Northstar offer their guests the opportunity to participate in supporting wind energy and offset the emissions caused by their automobile travel to the slopes through selling BEF Mini-Green Tags. The Mini-Tag initiative for skiers was developed in 2003 and first introduced in partnership with Mt. Hood Meadows. Guests of these ski areas are encouraged to purchase Mini-Green Tags along with their ski pass for the day to help reduce the impacts of their individual travel to the ski area.

National Sustainable Slopes outreach day is February 21, 2004. This year's campaign theme, "Keep Winter Cool," reflects the ski industry's commitment to fighting global warming.

About Sustainable Slopes
The Sustainable Slopes Outreach Campaign has its origins in the National Ski Areas Association's Environmental Charter adopted in June 2000. The Charter contains a sweeping set of voluntary principles for protecting the environment and formalizes the industry's commitment to environmental sustainability. The "Principles" cover planning, design and construction; operations, energy conservation and use; waste management; fish and wildlife, forest and vegetative management; wetlands and riparian areas; air and visual quality; transportation; and education and outreach. More than 170 ski areas in 31 states, plus six resorts in Canada, have endorsed the Charter. For more information visit: www.nsaa.org or www.keepwintercool.org

About BEF
Bonneville Environmental Foundation funds projects that restore damaged watersheds and support new renewable energy projects from solar, wind and biomass. Created by regional environmental groups and the Bonneville Power Administration, the Foundation operates collaboratively but independent of both.

About Green Tags
Also known as Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) or Tradable Renewable Energy Credits (TRECs), BEF's Green Tags represent the environmental benefits that occur when renewable energy replaces energy produced from burning fossil fuels on the - power grid. The result is a corresponding savings in greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide). BEF's Green Tags maybe purchased by anyone from any location independent of their utility in support of renewable energy.

BEF's Green Tags are Green-e certified by the Center for Resource Solutions (www.green-e.org) and designated Climate Cool by the Climate Neutral Network as having a net zero impact on the climate (www.climateneutral.com). The Natural Resources Defense Council, Renewable Northwest Project and the Northwest Energy Coalition certify new renewable energy resources that produce BEF's Green Tags.

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