Northstar-at-Tahoe Partners with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to Become the First California Ski Area to Purchase Green Tags in Support of Wind Energy

February 17, 2004 (Truckee, Calif.) — The Portland based non-profit Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) announced today that Northstar-at-Tahoe (Northstar) has offset approximately 215,600 pounds worth of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the ski area's electrical energy use through a substantial purchase of Green Tags (also known as Tradable Renewable Energy Credits) from BEF. Northstar's Green Tags purchase represents over 150 megawatt–hours of renewable energy produced from non-polluting wind resources located in the Pacific Northwest, equivalent to the annual electricity used by about 180 homes.

Northstar's Green Tags purchase is one component of its participation in the ‘Sustainable Slopes' program, developed by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). The Sustainable Slopes program encourages ski areas to demonstrate their commitment to good environmental stewardship through approved measures, including water and energy conservation, water quality protection, waste reduction, habitat protection, forest and vegetative management, and air and visual quality protection. February 21, 2004 is National Sustainable Slopes Outreach Day.

"Supporting Green Tags was an easy decision," said Tim Silva, Northstar's General Manager. "It's part of our overall commitment to providing an environmentally sound winter recreation experience to our guests."

"We applaud Northstar at Tahoe for making a significant contribution to the development of renewable energy," said Angus Duncan, President of BEF. "It takes purchases such as this to help transform the energy market and bring new, clean resources online, we appreciate their leadership on this issue."

Guests of Northstar are also encouraged to join in and support the ski area's efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. Through the partnership, Northstar also offers its customers a chance to add a full or Mini-Green Tag to their lift pass in order to help offset the vehicle emissions associated with their trip to the ski area.

The average single-car trip to Northstar produces approximately 140 pounds of carbon dioxide. That's 10% of the amount that one "full" Green Tag prevents. So Northstar is selling $2.00 ‘Mini-Green Tags' to give guests a way to remove from the atmosphere the same amount of C02 that their ski-commute produces. This means visitors to Northstar can now "Ski Pollution Free". The guest program will commence Saturday, February 21, 2004 in support of National Sustainable Slopes Outreach Day – guests may purchase Mini-Green Tags from any Northstar ticket window throughout the rest of the ski season.

Burning fossil fuels to generate electricity, heat homes or drive cars pumps millions of tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere each year. These gases are the principal contributors to global climate change.

Green Tags help reduce the harmful environmental effects of burning coal and natural gas to produce electricity, by providing energy consumers with a way to support clean renewable energy entering the energy grid and to displace fossil fuel energy. One Green Tag represents 1,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy (such as wind or solar power) entering the energy grid and displacing an equal amount of fossil fuel energy.

Green Tags and Mini-Green Tags are an easy way to support the switch to renewable sources. It's also an easy way to compensate, indirectly, for the greenhouse gases that we all produce in our daily activities. So why should a skier or snowboarder pay $2 for a Mini-Green Tag? The dollars from Green Tags go straight back to supporting new wind, solar and other renewable energy sources that displace the burning of oil, gas and coal. The more renewable energy we use, the more snow pack we're likely to enjoy. More snow pack is good for skiers . . . and also for fish, agriculture and the environment.

About Northstar-at-Tahoe
Recognized as one of the top ski resorts in North America, Northstar, located in North Lake Tahoe, California, is situated on 8,000 wooded acres, with 2,200 acres devoted to skiing, and 3,580 acres set aside as timber preserve and open space. Northstar-at-Tahoe is a member of the Booth Creek family of resorts including Northstar-at-Tahoe; Summit at Snoqualmie in Washington; and Waterville Valley, Cranmore Mountain Resort, and Loon Mountain in New Hampshire. Northstar-at-Tahoe is located off Highway 267, just six miles from the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. For additional information visit: www.NorthstarAtTahoe.com

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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