Ski resort flunks eco scorecard; questions objectivity of study

Whitefish Mountain Resort has been named one of the least eco-friendly ski resorts in the nation in an annual report published by the nonprofit Ski Area Citizens Coalition. Whitefish ranked 84th out of 85 ski areas for their commitment to environmental stewardship.

The poor result, however, is likely due to the fact that resort officials didn’t fill out the SACC survey, as they were advised not to by the National Ski Areas Association.

The incomplete survey left Whitefish with numerous zeros on their scorecard, ultimately leading to an overall “D” grade of 48.5 percent.

According to Whitefish Mountain Resort spokeswoman Riley Polumbus, the NSAA recommends not filling out the survey because they believe its objectivity is questionable, and taking the survey would only validate a flawed study.

Grades on the scorecard are based on a point system in four categories of habitat protection, protecting watersheds, addressing global climate change, and environmental practices and polices.

Whitefish was docked major points for its planned Flower Point project. Four new runs have been cut on the north side of Flower Point and a fixed-grip triple chair will be installed next summer. The new runs and lift fall within the resort’s current permit area and will add about 200 acres of lift-served skiing.

Due to the Flower Point project, Whitefish scored zero of a possible 53 points in the “preserving undisturbed lands from development” criteria, and five of a possible 30 points for “maintaining ski terrain within the existing footprint.”

Polumbus said that had SACC “done their homework and really researched it, they would know we didn’t expand anything. The 200 acres is within our existing 3,000 acres. They didn’t call anyone to get an explaination.”

The resort scored “F” grades for addressing climate change and their environmental policies and practices, which were mostly scored with zeros.

Gavin Feiger, of the SACC, says they attempted to contact Whitefish officials at least five times. He said if a resort doesn’t respond, they formulate their findings based on information gleaned from a resort’s website.

Feiger says about half of the resorts ranked this year took their survey.

“To be honest, I am not sure why NSAA advises resorts not to fill out the survey,” he said. “Resorts that score well generally like the scorecard while resorts that do not score well generally do not like it. NSAA probably wants all ski resorts in the U.S. to look good in the press.”

He notes that NSAA has their own environmental and sustainability programs and initiatives, “but we do not believe they are as rigorous as ours,” he said.

Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park in Washington was rated the least eco-friendly resort in the nation, also due to a proposed expansion and new lift. Lost Trail Ski Area in southwest Montana made the worst-10 list as well.

Stevens Pass in Washington was rated the most eco-friendly, followed by Park City. Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain and Buttermilk, all in Colorado, rounded out the top-5.

In Montana, Red Lodge and Bridger Bowl each scored “A” grades. Montana Snowbowl, Big Sky Resort, Ski Discovery, and Moonlight Basin tallied “B” grades.

The SACC notes that the top-5 environmental resorts generate alternative energy on their own slopes. Aspen Skiing Company in particular installed solar panels and a micro-hydro plant. They also installed a solar system at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, and invested in a methane capture facility that will offset all of the company’s annual energy use, SACC states in its report.

“It’s great news at the start of the new ski season to see increased alternative energy used at ski resorts,” said Anna Olsen, lead researcher of the SACC scorecard. “From wind to sun – it’s Mother Nature taking us up-slope in ways that reduce greenhouse gases and pollute less.”

More than one quarter of resorts in the Rockies generate alternative power, the report states.

Polumbus noted some of Whitefish’s sustainable practices that weren’t mentioned on the SACC scorecard, including incentives for employees to carpool or use the SNOW bus, minimal and effecient snowmaking, the use of four-stroke snowmobiles, and a recycling program they are trying to improve.

“We know we could do better, however [the SACC report] does not represent what we are doing,” Polumbus said.

To view the SACC scorecard, visit online at www.skiareacitizens.com.