Aspen, Colo. (December 12, 2006) – Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) announced today that it will partner with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to sell 100 percent Green-e certified SkiGreen Tags to resort guests who wish to offset their travel-related global warming emissions to and from the resort with wind energy. SkiGreen Tags can be added to a season pass for $20, or guests can purchase a single day SkiGreen Tag with each lift ticket for $2.
“We see this as a customer service program,” said Auden Schendler, Director of Environmental Affairs for Aspen Skiing Company. “In this case, it’s not a hot lunch or a free cookie, but an opportunity to protect the future of the sport.”
SkiGreen is a program of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of supporting the development of clean, sustainable and domestic renewable energy across North America. Each $20 SkiGreen Tag represents one Megawatt-hour of renewable power generation and offsets approximately 1,400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily measured as carbon dioxide. Each $2 SkiGreen Tag represents 100 kilowatt-hours of renewable generation and is the equivalent of approximately 150 miles driven. Participants in the program will receive acknowledgement of what their contribution represents along with SkiGreen stickers for his or her helmet or gear, and a coupon for Aspen/Snowmass services.
“Aspen/Snowmass is in the unique position to help educate and influence the winter sports community at large,” said Patrick Nye, director of sales at Bonneville Environmental Foundation. “Through programs such as SkiGreen and SaveSnow, Aspen will create a larger positive impact beyond greening their own operations.”
In addition, BEF has committed to reinvest 20 percent of all consumer sales from Green Tags sold in Aspen into the community for new local renewable energy projects through a partnership with The City of Aspen’s Canary Initiative. To learn more about this partnership visit www.canaryinitiative.com.
Aspen/Snowmass’ participation is SkiGreen is added to the long list of activities the company has engaged in to stop global warming. ASC’s efforts include a commitment to purchase renewable energy credits and offset 100 percent of their electricity use. The company built one of the first 11 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings in the world, developed the ski industry’s first climate policy and is the only resort to become a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange. The company also developed the industry’s two largest on-site renewable energy systems. Aspen Skiing Company has received over 30 awards recognizing its environmental commitment, and became the only company in the snow sports industry to submit an Amicus Brief to the Supreme Court arguing that the EPA should regulate carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act. More information about Aspen Skiing Company’s global warming initiatives can be found at the company’s website for climate-change at www.SaveSnow.com.
About Aspen Ski Company
Aspen Skiing Company operates four destination mountains – Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk – and is the home of the ESPN Winter X Games through 2010. Aspen/Snowmass also offers unparalleled nightlife and off-slope activities as well as four award-winning Ski & Snowboard Schools. In March 2006, ASC announced it would offset 100% of its electricity use with the purchase of wind energy credits. Aspen/Snowmass is accessible by two of the most convenient airports in the mountains – Aspen Sardy Field (3 miles from Aspen) and Eagle County Airport (70 miles from Aspen). For more information on Aspen/Snowmass, please call 800/525-6200 or 970/925-1220, or visit the company's website at www.aspensnowmass.com.
About SkiGreen
SkiGreen is a partnership between the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) and leaders in the snow-sports industry in order to build support for non-polluting renewable sources of power (such as wind and solar energy). Ski areas depend on a reliable snow-pack to provide their guests with a high quality winter-sports experience, but air pollution, primarily from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, is causing unseasonably warmer temperatures, reduction in snow-pack levels and ultimately lower quality ski conditions over fewer ski days. BEF is a national non-profit foundation dedicated to reducing the impacts of climate change by changing the way energy is produced. Our ski area partners and resort guests play a critical role in getting that mission accomplished. Visit www.SkiGreen.org for more information.
About the Bonneville Environmental Foundation
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 1998 and was a pioneer in developing the market for renewable energy certificates, which it calls
Green Tags. BEF reinvests all the net revenues from Green Tags sales in support of its mission, which funds solar power systems for schools and businesses, wind power systems for farms and ranches, and restoration efforts for salmon-bearing streams. Visit
www.GreenTagsUSA.org to learn what individuals, utilities, and businesses are doing to increase the use of wind and solar power in our nation’s electricity grids.
