GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WYO.—Taking a green vacation just became easier with Grand Teton Lodge Company’s (GTLC) announcement that it will offset 100 percent of its energy use by purchasing clean, renewable wind-generated energy. By purchasing energy credits equal to the company’s entire electricity use, GTLC becomes one of the largest purchasers of wind power in Wyoming.
In 2003, GTLC led the way in promoting alternative energy sources in the state by becoming one of the first Wyoming businesses to purchase wind-generated electricity, securing the equivalent power to run Jenny Lake Lodge annually. The company will work with Boulder, Colo.-based Renewable Choice Energy as its wind-power provider.
“Converting to 100 percent wind-generated electricity was the natural next step in our company’s environmental program, Envision, which is the foundation for all of our operations,” says John W. Rutter, senior vice president and chief operating officer for Grand Teton Lodge Co. “We are increasingly aware of how important ecologically-responsible options are to travelers today. GTLC is not only well ahead of the industry in responding to consumers, we are also setting the standard for U.S. companies with our unsurpassed environmental programs.”
Because it is physically impossible to deliver electricity straight from a wind farm to GTLC, renewable energy credits make purchasing wind power possible. Wind energy credits ensure that the amount of electricity the company uses is replaced onto the power grid with wind power. Wind farms sell renewable energy credits to better compete with fossil fuels, allowing consumers to choose clean sources of electricity.
GTLC will work in conjunction with its parent company, Vail Resorts, to purchase wind credits from Renewable Choice Energy, thereby avoiding more than 211 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually, which according to the Environmental Protection Agency is the equivalent to taking 18,000 cars off the road or planting more than 27,000 acres of trees.
In 2003, the company became one of the first in the U.S. lodging industry to be acknowledged for its green efforts by achieving International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 certification for its environmental management program. From initiatives such as offering sustainable cuisine, a commitment to green materials use and procurement, an interpretive program for guests and a “Go Green, Get Green” package for meeting planners, GTLC has made significant strides in reducing its impacts on the environment while imparting green knowledge to its guests along the way.
A copy of the Envision sustainability report can be obtained by visiting the company’s website at www.gtlc.com/envision, or by calling (307) 543-3100.
