Alterra Mountain Company, the operators of Steamboat and Winter Park Resort, has taken on a new sustainability policy.

The company hired Lotus Engineering & Sustainability to evaluate the total annual greenhouse gas emissions produced by all resorts. Pulling from a myriad of data such as fossil fuels on the site of each resort, as well as emissions produced by employee commuting and resort guest travel, it was found that in total the company produced 367,827 metric tons of CO2 last year. 

Data regarding energy audits demonstrated that over four million square feet of the facilities combined were audited last year, and 3,868 acres of snowmaking were audited. 

Alterra has outlined a roadmap to move forward with this initiative that includes a set of goals to reach by 2030. 

“We are working to be consistent with global sustainable development goals and are using science-based targets,” said Sara Jones, Director of Social Responsibility at Steamboat Ski Resort. 

The group looks to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by the year 2030. Alterra said it is looking to reduce carbon emissions at a faster rate than what climate scientists say is needed to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050. 

Additionally the group looks to use 100% renewable energy and achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2030. 

Jones noted nuances in the plan as Alterra owns resorts across the U.S. and Canada. For instance, she said implementation could look different in eastern Canada, Vermont and California as those resorts use a lot of hydropower. 

“We recognize that we have to do some work to achieve carbon neutrality that goes beyond transitioning to 100% renewable energy,” Jones said. “We know we want it to be accountable. We know we want it to be impactful. We know we want it to be reportable. But we don’t know what that looks like yet.”

She said the first steps of this process include being more energy efficient and tracking the resort’s data. 

Within its newly adopted sustainability policy, Alterra has a goal of reducing carbon emissions at their own operations by 8%. The company will also create a baseline for waste levels and diversion opportunities, as well as water usage averages, at each location.

Steamboat plans to carry these goals out by partnering with waste management to analyze accounts and determine location-based waste diversion amounts, and reduce the recycling spoil-load by 50%. Additionally, it plans to reduce 90% of single-use plastic in food and beverage establishments, and meet and exceed Steamboat’s ordinance in regards to take-out containers. 

The resort will conduct a study to establish baseline water use at all resort-owned facilities and operations, and set water conservation goals. It will also work with the Grand Hotel to complete a water audit, and to identify projects to conserve water.

Throughout this process, Alterra says it looks to support the local green initiatives of the municipalities of its resorts. Many of the initiatives associated with the plan roll out in the fiscal year of 2024 and 2025. Fiscal years begin on Aug. 1.

Editor’s note: The story has been updated to reflect that Alterra operates Steamboat Resort and Winter Park Resort, it does not own it.