Please read the following case study on Water and Wind: Rising Above Mother Nature’s Variables to Go Green: Mountain-based resorts have to face the facts: going green is no longer a trend. Going green has become a reality that most, if not all, industries are being required to incorporate into day-to-day operations. Facing criticisms of overconsumption, rising prices of energy and water, and impact on the surrounding ecosystem, mountain-based resorts across the globe are installing wind turbines and hydroelectric projects. Some resorts have come across challenges to the wind turbines from Mother Nature, as in Snowmass, Colorado, with the swirling vortex winds on the upper slopes of the mountain. With powerful, inconsistent winds, the wind turbine in this location cannot react quickly enough, causing it to shut off and to wait until the winds are more stable and subdued. However, the wind in this location is known for its frequent changes in flow. If a resort can overcome Mother Nature’s variability, obtain permits, find the capital to buy the turbine, and other challenges, then the resort can find success, as Jiminy Peak Ski Resort in New England has done. Jiminy Peak Ski Resort built the Zephyr in response to its $635,000 electricity bill, reducing electricity costs by $200,000, gaining tax credits, and earning an estimated $200,000 per year by selling power to the National Grid utility. As a bonus, the Zephyr has become an attraction for tourists. However, not all green initiatives are glamorized or seen by the public. Wind power has been growing as a means to be sustainable and green, but the use of hydroelectric power from mountain run-off is also being studied as a green project. Whistler Blackcomb resort in British Columbia began the installation of the $32 million Fitzsim- mons Creek Hydro Project in 2008. This hydroelectric project will produce enough power for the ski resort’s winter and summer operations, including the 17 restaurants, 38 snowguns, 28 chair lifts, and other buildings in the area. The location of the hydro project provides ideal conditions, with an abundance of water fairly untouched by fishermen and other recreational users. Whether through wind or water, mountain-based resorts are continuously finding ways for guests to enjoy the white powder but in a green way.
Please briefly post your answers to the following questions: What do you think motivates mountain-based resorts to incorporate green initiatives and standards: customer demand, government regulatory pressures, or cost? Why? What challenges do mountain-based resorts face when implementing green initiatives and standards？