A Letter To The Senators
Senator John McCain United States Senate 241 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 FAX: (202) 228 2862
Senator Joseph Lieberman United States Senate 706 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 FAX: (202) 224 9750 Re: Ski Industry Support for S. 139
Dear Senators McCain and Lieberman:
As you may know, the U.S. ski industry adopted a policy on climate change last year to address the important problem of global warming. Arapahoe Basin (CO), Aspen Highlands (CO), Aspen Mountain (CO), Attitash Bear Peak (NH), Bristol Mountain Winter Resort (NY), Buttermilk Mountain (CO), The Canyons (UT), Copper Mountain Resort (CO), Cranmore Mountain Resort (NH), 49o North Ski Area (WA), Greek Peak Mountain Resort (NY), Haystack Ski Area (VT), Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (WY), Killington and Pico Resorts (VT), Loon Mountain Recreation Corp. (NH), Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain Ski Areas (CA), Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort and Cooper Spur Mountain Resort (OR), Mount Snow Resort (VT), Northstar-at-Tahoe (CA), Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort (CA), Snowmass Ski Area (CO), Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. (CO), Sugar Bowl Ski Resort (CA), Sugarloaf/USA (ME), The Summit-at-Snoqualmie (WA), Sunday River Ski Resort (ME), Waterville Valley Resort (NH) and Winter Park Resort (CO) are committed to raising awareness of the problem and helping apply solutions to solve it.
For that reason, we are writing to express strong support for your Climate Stewardship Act, S. 139. There are plenty of good reasons for ski resorts to be concerned about climate change and its potential impacts on winter recreation. Scientific models suggest that as warming continues, we could experience decreased snowpack, warmer nights, wetter shoulder seasons, and reduced weather predictability. All of these changes affect our industry, as fewer operating days would obviously impact our bottom line, warmer nights can impact our ability to make snow, and spring rain can wash away our base at a critical time of year for skiing and snowboarding. As diehard skiers and snowboarders, we think winter is already too short. We view climate change as a long-term problem, and want to implement reasonable, bi-partisan supported measures now to help solve it.
Ski areas have taken tremendous steps to reduce our own GHG emissions, including using pollution-free wind energy to run buildings and lifts, applying energy-efficient "green building" techniques, retrofitting existing facilities to save energy, replacing inefficient compressors in snowmaking operations, using alternative fuels in resort vehicle fleets, and providing or promoting car pooling or mass transit use by guests and employees. We are a relatively small source of greenhouse gas emissions, however, and will need the help of other industries to turn this problem around. We support the Climate Stewardship Act because it will encourage major industrial emitters to invest in the most cost-effective means to reduce emissions. Over the long term, investments in efficiency should actually reduce future energy costs. While resorts and other businesses may see a small increase in their electricity rates, these costs will be manageable with periodic efficiency upgrades such as replacing outdated compressors in snowmaking equipment. These measures will reduce the electricity and fuel bills ski resorts pay in the long run. Please let us know if there is anything else we can to do help ensure the passage of S. 139. Our contact person is Geraldine Link ((720) 963-4205 or glink@nsaa.org) at the National Ski Areas Association.
Best Regards,
Arapahoe Basin (CO) Aspen Highlands (CO) Aspen Mountain (CO) Attitash Bear Peak (NH) Bristol Mountain Winter Resort (NY) Buttermilk Mountain (CO) The Canyons (UT) Copper Mountain Resort (CO) Cranmore Mountain Resort (NH) 49o North Ski Area (WA) Greek Peak Mountain Resort (NY) Haystack Ski Area (VT) Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (WY) Killington and Pico Resorts (VT) Loon Mountain Recreation Corp. (NH) Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain Ski Areas (CA) Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort and Cooper Spur Mountain Resort (OR) Mount Snow Resort (VT) Northstar-at-Tahoe (CA) Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort (CA) Snowmass Ski Area (CO) Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. (CO) Sugar Bowl Ski Resort (CA) Sugarloaf/USA (ME) The Summit at Snoqualmie (WA) Sunday River Ski Resort (ME) Waterville Valley Resort (NH) Winter Park Resort (CO)
cc: Senator Bill Frist Senator Thomas Daschle Floyd DesChamps Tim Profeta