Crystal, Taos Win 2016 NSAA Sustainable Slopes Grants

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16 May 2016

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SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., May 16, 2016—The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has named Crystal Mountain, Mich., and Taos Ski Valley, N.M., as recipients of its HKD emailsize annual Sustainable Slopes Grant Program. Funds from the program target carbon emission reductions, snowmaking improvements, and climate adaptation at U.S. ski areas.

Crystal received a $5,000 cash grant for an LED lighting project in its day visitor lot, which is used year-round by guests and employees. Crystal estimates the LED fixtures will save 7,000 kWh annually, and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 4.9 tons. Crystal Mountain is a participant in NSAA's Climate Challenge, and this LED project will help the ski area meet its goal of reducing MTCO2e emissions for the next several years.

Crystal's $5,000 grant was made possible by a donation from CLIF Bar, which has contributed to the Sustainable Slopes Grant Program for the last seven years.

Taos Ski Valley, also a participant in the Climate Challenge, will receive five high-efficiency snowmaking guns from HKD Snowmakers, valued at $23,000. “We at HKD are thrilled to support Taos in participating in the Climate Challenge and meeting [its] goal through the use of our energy-efficient Impulse snowmaking equipment,” said Charles Santry, president of HKD Snowmakers.

New this year, all participants in the Climate Challenge program will receive in-kind climate adaptation consulting services grants from Brendle Group, a Colorado-based sustainability engineering firm, valued at $5,000 each. “The Climate Challengers are deserving of this award for their willingness to lead by example in addressing and preparing for climate change,” said Brendle Group's president, Judy Dorsey.

Since its inception in 2009, the Sustainable Slopes Grant Program has awarded $118,500 in cash grants and $321,000 in in-kind grants, for a total of $439,000 in support of resort sustainability projects. NSAA will highlight the grand winners in the 2016 Sustainable Slopes Annual Report, to be published in September 2016. For more information, visit the Environment section of nsaa.org.