Montana Climate Matters: Column 16 - Ski areas must adapt to changing winters to survive

This time of year, ski areas are normally buzzing with anticipation, but this year many are quiet, employees are waiting, and slopes are thin on snow.  In several regions, snow isn’t the problem, rain is. Unusually intense storms have damaged roads and communities throughout the Northwest, with access to some areas closed for months. When it’s not rain or wind, it’s the wildfire season coming ever earlier to threaten forests and infrastructure. Shorter, less predictable early winter and spring seasons, volatile weather, and steadily rising snow line are becoming the norm. This isn’t the ski season anyone wants, but it is the one we’ve been warned about, repeatedly.

Across the globe, ski area managers rank climate change as the single greatest threat to operations. They’re studying data, tracking regional impacts, and planning for a future that looks very different from the past. The resorts most likely to survive are those with high base elevations and that take responsibility for their environmental footprint, recognizing that long-term success depends on a healthy climate, resilient ecosystems, and sustainable growth strategies.

Climate considerations increasingly shape how resorts spend money and plan infrastructure. Ignoring the climate issue isn’t just risky for the planet, it’s expensive. Rising fossil fuel costs and the financial fallout of poor snow years make inaction a losing strategy.

For decades, the National Ski Areas Association has supported sustainability efforts and climate advocacy through its Sustainable Slopes program. Participating ski areas commit to integrating sustainability into every part of their operations, leading by example and educating staff and guests. Of the program’s ten focus areas, climate action and advocacy sit at the top.

For Bridger Bowl Ski Area near Bozeman, electricity has been our largest source of carbon pollution. The response to that realization was decisive. Since 2024, Bridger Bowl has operated on 100% renewable energy. A 50-kilowatt solar array now supplies about 3% of annual energy needs, while the rest is covered through renewable energy credits generated by participating in “Help Build” projects with Native-A Public Benefit Corporation. It’s a meaningful step toward reducing greenhouse gas impacts.

Cutting fossil fuel use is essential for ski areas, but progress often depends on state policy. In states where legislation supports aggregating electricity demand, cooperative projects between utilities, municipalities, and ski resorts have delivered large-scale renewable energy. Utah’s 80 MWac Elektron solar project, made possible by legislation passed in 2016, is one example of how smart policy unlocks cleaner power for entire communities.

Snow remains the most critical resource for ski areas. Snowmaking helps adapt to short-term climate changes, but it depends on two increasingly unreliable factors: cold temperatures and available water. Even places where water is plentiful, temperatures often aren’t. In the Mountain West, long-term drought has reduced snowpack and limited water supplies, even as this year’s snowmelt is stored to make next winter’s snow. Responsible adaptation strategies, like snow fencing, snow farming, and using highly treated wastewater, also help address seasonal snow shortages, but their long-term impact is limited.

The climate stakes extend far beyond the slopes. A 2018 Protect Our Winters report found that winter sports contribute $12.2 billion annually to the U.S. economy, growing to $20.3 billion when related spending is included. In Montana, outdoor recreation and tourism drive the economy, but agriculture and fisheries also rely on consistent snowfall and slow spring melt.

Sustainable Slopes participants recognize this interconnectedness and pledge three priorities: amplify the ski industry’s collective voice for smart climate policy; reduce emissions and environmental impact; and plan a future that protects people, infrastructure, and the natural places that make winter possible in the first place.

Bonnie Hickey is the past Sustainability Director at Bridger Bowl Ski Area outside of Bozeman.

By Bonnie Hickey: January 14, 2025 - Bozeman, Mt

Opinion / political pieces are printed verbatim, in their entirety, and are not fact-checked. We reserve the right to not run an opinion or political piece that we find objectionable. If you have an opinion or political piece you would like to share, please contact The Great Falls Gazette at info@gfgazette.com or call (406) 604-8929.