Eastern ski slopes go green

It’s no secret that this has been a tough autumn for those ski and snowboard resorts that had hoped to open early. We've had rain, rain and more rain, right up into Canada. And after last winter’s endless rains, this year’s warmth is enough to bring global climate change to mind as a culprit.

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Making and grooming snow takes a lot of electricity, but Okemo purchases clean energy credits to reduce the amount of pollution in our atmosphere. Photo, courtesy of Okemo Mountain Resort

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So while you are waiting (impatiently, I presume) for winter to arrive, some of the Northeast's leading resorts are doing their part to minimize their own impact on climate change.

A number of them are:

• seeking out “greener” sources of energy,
• finding more energy-efficient ways to make and groom snow,
• upgrading their buildings to be more energy efficient,
• and generally trying to be better citizens of planet Earth.

Cynics might say that it’s all motivated by business. After all, mountain resorts here in the northeast depend on snow, and if the world gets too warm, they will be among the first to suffer. Of course that has a lot to do with it. But I honestly believe that most of the resorts are reacting because it makes good business sense AND because it’s the right thing to do.

Green Power

The National Ski Areas Association ( http://www.nsaa.org ) launched a proactive "Green Power" program in September as part of the industry’s Keep Winter Cool ( http://keepwintercool.org ) effort to combat global warming.

Green power is generated from renewable and nonpolluting energy sources including wind power, geothermal power, small scale hydro-power, solar power or bio-mass power.

To date, 47 resorts in 14 states have thrown their support behind the program - agreeing to buy renewable energy for their operations to offset at least a part of their power consumption.

Take, for example, Okemo Mountain Resort, (1-800-786-5366; www.okemo.com ) in Ludlow, Vermont, and Mount Sunapee (603-763-2356; www.mtsunapee.com ) in Newbury, N.H., together with sister resort Crested Butte in Colorado These resorts have purchased  27 million kilowatt hours of Renewable Energy.  This represents enough renewable power to fully offset the annual use of electricity by the three resorts. This will prevent the release of an estimated 18,800 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (about equal to the emissons of  2,200 average homes  or 1.9 million gallons of gasoline.)

They aren’t the only ones.

Going all the way

At least 17 other ski areas nationwide are offsetting 100 percent of their energy use by purchasing renewable energy.

Middlebury Snow Bowl (802-388-4356; www.middlebury.edu/~snowbowl ) in Hancock, Vermont is raising taking the next step. They have purchased enough renewable energy credits to offset not only their own electric use, but enough to offset all the carbon dioxide produced by the resort’s gas, propane, diesel and biodiesel usage, as well as skier transportation to and from the ski area. In other words, the entire operation of Middlebury is adding no additional CO2 to the atmosphere. The offsets come from Native American owned and operated wind turbine farms and family-owned farm methane projects.

In Maine, Shawnee Peak (207-647-8444; www.shawneepeak.com ) in Bridgton, Sunday River (207-824-3000; www.sundayriver.com ) in Newry and Sugarloaf/USA (207-237-2000; www.sugarloaf.com ) in Carrabassett Valley are all buying offsets for all of their electricity for lifts, snowmaking equipment, lights, lodges and administrative offices entirely from zero-emission wind power. Shawnee alone will save about 2.2 million pounds of carbon dioxide (equal to removing 159 cars from the road.).”

Jiminy Peak (1-800-882-8859; www.jiminypeak.com ) in Hancock, Mass., is spending $3.9 million to bring its own wind turbine on line in 2007 to produce 4.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, which accounts for a good share of Jiminy’ annual use of 7 million kilowatt hours).

Dozens of other areas are taking steps to become more energy efficient. For example, when Wachusett Mountain (1-800-SKI-1234; www.wachusett.com ) Princeton, Mass. Recently replaced its snowmaking compressors with more efficient models, they set it up so recirculated waste heat from the air compressors supplies the base lodge with 100% of its heat

Other areas are upgrading to more efficient snow guns, more fuel efficient groomers, better insulation.

Sure, they're all little steps. But they all help.

And the best news of all is most of these steps pay for themselves in a very short while. Not only are they good for the environment, they are good for business.

Upcoming Deals

Sunday River (207-824-3000; www.sundayriver.com ) in Newry, Maine: Tin Mountain Round Up Food Drive November 27- December , bring 3 cans of food and get a $20 lift ticket. All food benefits the Bethel Food Pantry.
Food Drive Day - November 26

Okemo Mountain Resort, (1-800-786-5366; www.okemo.com ) in Ludlow, Vermont "Cares & Shares" on the Sunday of November 26. Donate a minimum of three non-perishable food items, a new child's toy, or a new clothing item, and receive a coupon to purchase a lift ticket for $25 that day. All donated items will benefit the Black River Good Neighbor Services Christmas Basket program.

Mark Your Calendar

Demo days are your chance to ski on the newest gear for just the cost of your lift ticket:

November, 25 and 26., Sunday River (207-824-3000; www.sundayriver.com) in Newry, Maine

December 2, Killington (800-621-6867; www.killington.com ) in Killington, VT

December 3, Mount Sunapee (603-763-2356; www.mtsunapee.com ) in Newbury, N.H.

Snow Tires

Have you put on your snow tires yet? If you haven’t, it’s time.

I presume that, when you load your skis or snowboard onto the vehicle and head for the slopes, your intention is to get there in one piece. That doesn’t always happen, especially if it’s cold, precipitating, and your vehicle is equipped with summer tires or “all-season radials.”

Don’t feel smug because you have a high-center-of-gravity SUV or pickup. Ask any state trooper in snow country. The vehicle you are most likely to find in the ditch is a 4wd SUV with all-season radials

Yes, snow tires live on bare pavement most of the time. But when you need ‘em, you really need ‘em, especially early in the season when black ice is most prevalent.