SAM Magazine-Ludlow, Vt., Aug. 17, 2006-Tim and Diane Mueller, owners of Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado, and Mount Sunapee Resort, in New Hampshire, have entered into an agreement with Gunnison County Electric Association to purchase 27 million kilowatt hours of Renewable Energy Certificates from Sterling Planet, the nation's leading retail renewable energy provider. The purchase fully offsets the three areas' annual electricity use.

"Protection of the environment is one of our core values. It is also very important to our guests," said Tim Mueller. "We have the ability to demonstrate that Okemo, Mount Sunapee and Crested Butte are good community and corporate citizens working toward energy independence for America through clean, renewable sources like wind energy."

The purchase will save an estimated 18,800 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.

The Muellers will also participate in Sterling Planet's Investment for the Greater Good, a collaborative partnership between the Colorado Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation and Sterling Planet, to reinvest in Colorado-based renewable energy resources. "We will be paying a 10 percent premium on the purchase amount of renewable energy certificates for Crested Butte to promote Colorado wind energy development," Mueller said.