Year Two Results

Ashland, OR   Mt. Ashland guests have met the Green Chair Renewable Energy challenge during the second year of a three year contract.

In September of 2006, Mt. Ashland announced it had signed a three year deal with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation purchasing enough renewable energy to offset 100% of its electrical use each year through the 2008-09 season. Mt. Ashland agreed to purchase 780,000 kilowatt hours of renewable energy investments from the Foundation each season through the contract period, enough energy to run the lifts, lights, lodges and the Ashland business office.

For the second year in a row, Mt. Ashland guest have met the challenge and continue to show their commitment to investing in renewable energy. By March 1st the ski area’s guests had met the goal of raising $6,240 in renewable energy commitments. By the end of the season Mt. Ashland has raised an additional $1,618 that will be applied toward next season’s goal, the final year in the three year contract.

Mt. Ashland guests can participate by making a $20 donation to upgrade their season pass to a Green Chair pass. For their donation they received a green colored pass that identified them as a renewable energy supporter. Lift ticket buyers also had an option to make a $1 donation to receive a Green Chair lift ticket.

The City of Ashland also benefits from this program. For every one thousand kilowatt hours that Mt. Ashland purchases, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation will invest $1 in the Ashland Renewable Pioneers program, a partnership formed between the City of Ashland and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Mt. Ashland’s investment this year will add $780 to the Ashland Renewable Pioneers project and $2,340 over the three year contract period.

“All of our environmental programs are participatory in nature. We invite the community to participate and learn about environmental stewardship,” explained John Speece, the ski area’s rental shop manager and Green Chair program designer. Mt. Ashland placed Keep Winter Cool posters on display at the mountain to educate its guests about what they could do individually to reduce CO2 emissions. The Keep Winter Cool educational campaign was designed by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) and endorsed by the Natural Resources Defense Council. For more information on the Keep Winter Cool campaign visit: http://www.keepwintercool.org/whatcanido.html#energy.

Mt. Ashland’s Green Chair program earned the ski area a national award at the National Ski Areas Association convention last May in Energy Conservation/Renewable Energy; Mt. Ashland’s second national award since 2002.
Other Mt. Ashland environmental programs include a Car Pool program, the Mt. Ashland Ski Bus, Winter Science Field Trips, a Clean the Mt. Ashland Access Road Day, a Keep Mt. Ashland Clean and Green Day, and the Youth Summer Service Program. To lean more about these programs and to read the Mt. Ashland environmental charter visit: http://www.mtashland.com/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=8.

Year One Results

Ashland, OR...   Mt. Ashland guests have become renewable energy activists.

Last September Mt. Ashland announced it had signed a three year deal with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation purchasing enough renewable energy to offset 100% of its electrical use each year through the 2008-09 season. Mt. Ashland agreed to purchase 780,000 kilowatt hours of renewable energy investments from the Foundation each season through the contract period, enough energy to run the lifts, lights, lodges and the Ashland business office.

Mt. Ashland then asked its guests to make renewable energy donations, making them the actual renewable energy investors. The ski area put the package deal together, then relied on the environmental commitment of its guests to financially carry the program. To participate in the program, season pass holders were given the opportunity to make a $20 donation. What they received for their $20 “Green Chair Renewable Energy” upgrade was green colored pass that identified them as a renewable energy supporter. Lift ticket buyers also had an option to make a $1 donation to receive a Green Chair lift ticket.

The program’s design came from the ski area’s Environmental Committee which evaluates the area’s environmental programs and makes recommendations for future programs based on the area’s current resources. “It was a bit of a leap of faith,” said John Speece, the ski area’s Rental Shop Manager and Committee member. “We made a $6,240 commitment each year for the next three years in renewable energy, which is above and beyond paying our regular electric bill. But we also knew that skiers and snowboarders appreciate the natural environment and consider themselves environmentalists. We had faith that they would respond to the program, and they have.”

As of the end of March, 2007 Mt. Ashland guests made $6,436 in Green Chair Renewable Energy donations. Season pass holders donated $5,080 and lift ticket buyers made $1,356 in donations. The extra $196 plus any donations the ski area continues to receive will be applied towards the 2007-08 season’s 780,000 kilowatt hour goal.

“All of our environmental programs are participatory in nature. We invite the community to participate and learn about environmental stewardship,” explained Rick Saul, the ski area’s Marketing Director. Mt. Ashland placed Keep Winter Cool posters on display at the mountain to educate its guests about what they could do individually to reduce CO2 emissions. The Keep Winter Cool educational campaign was designed by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) and endorsed by the Natural Resources Defense Council. For more information on the Keep Winter Cool campaign visit: http://www.keepwintercool.org/whatcanido.html#energy.

The City of Ashland also benefits from this program. For every one thousand kilowatt hours that Mt. Ashland purchases, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation will invest $1 in the Ashland Renewable Pioneers program, a partnership formed between the City of Ashland and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Mt. Ashland’s investment this year will add $780 to the Ashland Renewable Pioneers project and $2,340 over the three year contract period.

As of October 2007, Mt. Ashland was one of 16 ski areas in the nation, and one of only two on the west coast to make the commitment to offset 100% of its electrical use through renewable energy investments. Mt. Ashland is currently listed as a finalist in the NSAA Environmental Awards program in two categories; Excellence in Energy Conservation / Clean Energy, and Excellence in Environmental Education for its Winter Science program. The winners will be announced at the NSAA national convention on Sunday, May 6, 2007. For more information on the NSAA Golden Eagle Environmental Awards visit: http://www.nsaa.org/nsaa/environment/gea/gea-finalists-07.asp.

Other Mt. Ashland environmental programs include a Car Pool program, the Mt. Ashland Ski Bus, Winter Science Field Trips, a Clean the Mt. Ashland Access Road Day, a Keep Mt. Ashland Clean and Green Day, and the Youth Summer Service Program. To lean more about these programs and to read the Mt. Ashland environmental charter visit: http://www.mtashland.com/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=8.