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Save the slopes

Sam Eaton Nov 8, 2006
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Save the slopes

Sam Eaton Nov 8, 2006
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TEXT OF STORY

SCOTT JAGOW: Ski season is upon us. With all the talk about a warmer climate, many resorts are serving up some politics with their lift tickets this year. Sam Eaton reports from our Sustainability Desk.


SAM EATON: Hitting the slopes has suddenly gotten a lot greener.

Auden Schendler heads Aspen Skiing Company’s environmental affairs program. He says the industry has undergone a sea change when it comes to recognizing global warming as a threat to its future viability.

AUDEN SCHENDLER: In ’97 at an industry meeting we got laughed out of the room when we brought up climate change. Now almost 50 resorts have bought some level of wind energy credits.

Nearly 20 of which, including Aspen, are now buying 100 percent green energy.

Schendler says most ski areas could be snow free by 2050 if nothing is done to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

The company has begun lobbying Congress to enact climate change legislation. It’s also launched a national ad campaign urging people to take action on the issue.

I’m Sam Eaton for Marketplace.

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