Bolton Valley Receives Top Ski Industry Environmental Award

Vermont's Bolton Valley Resort has been honored with a top ski industry environmental award for excellence in energy conservation and clean energy. The award was presented to Bolton Valley co-owner Larry Williams during the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) annual meeting and trade show here Tuesday.

Bolton Valley received a 2010 Silver Eagle Award as recognition for the installation of a wind turbine last fall. The resort became the first ski area in Vermont and only the second in the nation to install its own wind turbine. The Northwind 100 turbine produces 300,000-kilowatt hours of power annually; the equivalent to the electricity consumed by 40-to-45 Vermont households.Funding for the project came in part from the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund.

"Bolton Valley has aggressively pursued environmental initiatives in recent years and will continue to do so moving forward," said Williams. "Our skiers and riders look to us to provide not only a great on-mountain experience, but to be conscientious stewards of the mountain and our surrounding environment. We appreciate this recognition and look to bring additional conservation programs to Bolton Valley in the months and years ahead."

Established in 1993, the Golden Eagle Awards for Environmental Excellence recognize environmental achievements of ski areas. The award honors members of NSAA, which represents the majority of ski area owners and operators in North America. The awards are sponsored by Clif Bar & Company, which employs wind energy, biodiesel, waste reduction and other initiatives to reduce its own environmental impact.

Bolton Valley Resort is located midway between Montpelier and Burlington, Vermont, just off Interstate 89, providing affordable skiing and snowboarding on more than 1700 feet of vertical. The resort is owned by Larry Williams and Doug Nedde of Burlington.

Other ski areas recognized with awards included Whistler Blackcomb (British Columbia), Mammoth Mountain (California), Durango Mountain Resort (Colorado), Sierra-at-Tahoe (California), Vail Resorts (Colorado) and Steamboat (Colorado).