Ski areas depend on a reliable snow-pack to provide their guests with a high quality winter-sports experience. But air pollution from greenhouse gases – 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.

Each of the ski areas featured on this site have made a visible commitment to support renewable energy and many also encourage their guests to support renewable energy through sales of SkiGreen Tags for purchase along with season passes and lift tickets.

When guests SkiGreen, they reduce the impacts caused by their own activities, such as the air pollution produced by driving to their favorite ski area.

Revenues generated from these sales go to supporting our mission to transform the energy system. SkiGreen is “greening”the grid one skier at a time.

The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) was founded in 1998 to support watershed restoration programs and develop new sources of renewable energy. Funding for these efforts has been provided in a way that would be called unusual for most foundations. BEF, a non-profit organization, markets green power products to public utilities, businesses, government agencies and individuals.

What began as a partnership with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has expanded to include other suppliers and markets. Initially, BEF facilitated the environmental endorsement of several renewable energy resources and then helped market this green power, called Environmentally Preferred Power (EPP), to public utilities. In the first year of operation, BEF generated $2.5 million from this activity. Also, in that first year, BEF provided funding for two watershed projects and its first renewable energy project, Solar Ashland. Six additional projects were funded in year two; three for watershed work, two solar-powered stock watering projects and another community solar program. A current list of renewable energy projects is available on our Renewable Energy Projects page, and information about our watersheds is available on our Watershed Projects page.

During 2000, BEF developed its Green Tags product, in recognition of the demand for renewable energy in places where utilities do not offer that choice. Green Tags represent the environmental benefits that occur when clean, new renewable energy is substituted for power that is produced by burning fossil fuel. BEF has been the pioneer in offering this choice to customers worldwide. Revenues that are generated selling Green Tags are reinvested in new forms of renewable energy.

Visit SkiGreen.org for more information.

In the Adirondack Mountain village of Lake Placid, resorts are promoting other “no-snow-necessary” activities such as skating and bobsledding. Even in unseasonably warm spells, the activity-refrigeration systems work, allowing both locals and tourists alike to skate under the stars.

“It’s just a very nice vibe that goes on there at night,” said Sandy Caligiore of the Olympic Regional Development Authority. “You’ve got restaurants right across the street in case you get hungry. There are hot drinks from the vendor on site.”

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Other popular options in a too-warm winter is swimming – indoors, and mountain biking; steadfast cyclists have to put on chains and race on the slick ground after the snow starts.

Scott Brandi, executive director of Ski Areas of New York, said snowmaking technology has improved so much that skiers in the city should always call or check online, even when the weather appears impossibly warm outside their windows. He noted that winter is long in the Northeast, with limited outdoor options for children, and parents should use every opportunity “to get them away from those damn video games.”

Most ski areas make snow, and some skiers will drive hours to find it, even when there are limited trails open. Others will wait, and if this season is anything like the last, good snow will follow. A Feb. 14 storm last year pummeled upstate New York with two to three feet of snow.