Tue, Nov 26 2013 8:05 am | Comments
Leavenworth, WA – (November 22, 2013) – The Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition (SACC) released its annual Report Card this Tuesday and ranked Stevens Pass as the greenest ski resort in the country. Stevens Pass earned the highest score nationwide, and beat the nearest Washington competitor by 9 percentage points. This builds on a notable history, marking the third year of top ten rankings for the resort and the fifth “A” grade in a row.
For the past decade, the independent Coalition has rated 85 Western US ski areas on their environmental performance, with the intent of publicizing harmful practices while encouraging the public to patronize the higher-ranking resorts.
“We are tremendously pleased to earn the number one slot in this year’s Report Card, especially coming on the heels of our number two ranking last year,” said John Meriwether, Environmental Sustainability Manager for Stevens Pass. “It’s an honor to receive recognition of our accomplishments at Stevens Pass.”
Among the notable Stevens Pass sustainability achievements are a one hundred percent carbon offset of all electricity and propane consumed via non-polluting wind power; the installation of the first electric car chargers at a mountain pass anywhere in the country; an on-mountain four kilowatt solar array; an extensive composting program at most restaurant venues that captures 18,000 pounds of food waste per month; and recycling options resort-wide, including on the slopes.
“We’re always looking for ways to reduce our impacts, save money through efficiency, and do the right thing for the mountain environment for years to come,” said Meriwether. “This A-grade is good news for us and great for our guests.”
Scoring criteria include topics such as alternative energy installations, energy efficiency, protection of sensitive land, water conservation, recycling and compost programs, actions to address global climate change, and general commitment to greening up mountain operations. Each summer Stevens Pass must submit an extensive survey on the past year’s environmental actions, while additional data is gathered from public records.
# # #About Stevens Pass Mountain ResortStevens Pass is located 78 miles east of Seattle on the crest of the Cascade Mountain Range. Stevens averages over 450 inches of snow annually, covering 1,125 acres of skiable terrain – including 38 major runs and numerous bowls, glades and faces. The ski resort has a variety of terrain for every age and skill level. Normal winter operations run from late November to mid-April.
