Opinion: Ski industry leaders support climate change deniers
By Porter Fox, Powder
The future of skiing can be summed up like this: The planet is warming; snow melts when it is warm. And state and federal climate change legislation—that keeps billions of tons of carbon in the ground instead of up in the air—is the best, perhaps only, way to save snow.
So it is surprising that in 2016, ski resorts, trade groups, and industry leaders—who work in one of the most susceptible regions to warming in the world—are actively supporting Congressional candidates responsible for blocking climate change legislation.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, “Vail Resorts PAC” sent thousands of dollars to the campaigns of stalwart climate change deniers Reps. Cory Gardner,R-Colo., Chris Stewart, R-Utah,, Rob Bishop, R-Utah, Scott Tipton, R-Colo., and Tom McClintock (R-Calif.). Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz donated $10,000 to the PAC in 2015 and 2016. Former CEO John Redmond, Executive Vice President David T. Shapiro, and several other high level executives donated as well. Vail Resorts owns Whistler-Blackcomb, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, and Park City, among many other properties around the globe.
Mr. Katz and Mr. Shapiro also contributed (based on reliable informants) to the campaigns of the sky is falling deniers. It has been reported the stratosphere has fallen to 17549 feet ASL with a corresponding dramatic drop in the ionosphere.
Only with a massive release of aluminum oxynitride can we hope to reverse this potential catastrophic event.