There's a lot going on at Grand Targhee Resort on the sustainability front.

They recently hired Christina Thomure to be their first director of sustainable operations, but the resort has long been committed to a process of continual learning and improvement in pursuit of fiscally attainable and truly sustainable operations. That commitment is set forth in Grand Targhee's Sustainability Charter, which outlines past actions and future objectives in a number of areas:

• Facilities Management
• Renewable Energy
• Intelligent Transportation
• Preferred Purchasing
• Waste Management
• Sustainable Ecosystems
• Community Engagement
• Environmental Foundation

One fact that is often overlooked (and goes unmentioned on Targhee's website), is that Teton Valley lacks much of the infrastructure that we enjoy in Jackson Hole. Thus, Targhee's 40% rate for solid waste recycling is particularly impressive–they've created their own recycling center, complete with baler, because there is no other recycling facility nearby.

And sustainability is definitely not just a top-down initiative. Resort employees voluntarily contribute to Targhee Institute's  Environmental Foundation and provide community service through "Targhee in the Community."

As Thomure stated in a recent interview with the Jackson Hole News & Guide:

Resorts or outdoor recreational operations are supposed to be stewards of the environment, and I think there's a big responsibility to walk the talk. But sustainability goes a lot further in addressing the economic factors and social impacts that an operation has on the environment.

Carbon Neutral Journal's kudos are brought to you by Grand Targhee Resort (whether I choose to applaud them or not).

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