Ski season is in full swing, so the Ski Area Citizen's Coalition has released its annual list of the best and worst ski resorts for the environment. Ski resorts have a lot at stake when it comes to climate change, after all - warmer winters could mean shorter ski seasons, and lost revenue. The SACC grades the resorts on preserving undisturbed lands, conserving water by avoiding snowmaking, renewable energy, waste stream management, and accountability, among other factors. The resorts are graded on a scale of 0 - 100 percent, and you can check out their methodology here. So, if you're looking for some fresh powder, where should you go?
The 10 Most Eco-Friendly Ski Resorts
- Aspen Mountain Ski Resort - Colorado - 85.7%
- Buttermilk Mountain Ski Resort - Colorado - 85.2%
- Sundance Resort - Utah - 82.2%
- Park City Mountain Resort - Utah - 79.1%
- Squaw Valley USA - California - 78.3%
- Alpine Meadows Ski Area - California - 77.4%
- Aspen Highlands Ski Resort - Colorado - 76.7%
- Bogus Basin Mountain Resort - Idaho - 74.8%
- Mount Bachelor Ski Area - Oregon - 74.8%
- Telluride Ski Resort - Colorado - 74.3%
These resorts, however, all received a D or an F.
The 10 Least Eco-Friendly Ski Resorts
- Copper Mountain Ski Resort - Colorado - 31.9%
- Sun Valley Resort - Idaho - 34.3%
- Tamarack Resort - Idaho - 35.6%
- Breckenridge Ski Resort - Colorado - 36.1%
- Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park - Washington - 37.4%
- Arizona Snowbowl - Arizona - 38.6%
- 49 Degrees North Resort - Washington - 39.9%
- White Pass Ski Area - Washington - 41.3%
- Brundage Mountain Resort - Idaho - 41.8%
- Crystal Mountain Ski Area - Washington - 45.6%
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max bastien of VT 10:18AM November 23, 2012
Anne Christopher of GA 10:47AM March 25, 2009
Damien Black 1:59PM February 23, 2009