Clif Bar & Co. and the Sea Otter Classic will together purchase enough clean wind energy to offset all of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from participant travel to and from the event. CO2 is the major cause of global warming and participant travel surrounding the event creates the vast majority of the carbon dioxide that results from staging the festival.
All told, Clif Bar and Sea Otter will offset nearly 748 tons of carbon dioxide. Since its inception, Sea Otter has been committed to reducing the event's ecological footprint on the Laguna Seca Recreation Area and the adjacent Bureau of Land Management property. This year's partnership with Clif Bar marks the first time the event is 'climate neutral' and, along with other environmental efforts that will occur on site, represents one of the most significant environmental commitments ever at a major cycling festival.
“We're very pleased to help a pinnacle event in the cycling world address a major problem facing the entire world–global warming,” said Gary Erickson, owner and founder of Clif Bar & Co., whose organic CLIF BAR energy bars and CLIF SHOT BLOKS are the official energy bar and gel of Sea Otter. “A healthy environment is essential to the future of every cyclist–whether you ride five times a year or five times a week.”
Clif Bar & Co. and Sea Otter will purchase renewable wind energy credits or “green tags” from NativeEnergy, a renewable energy firm. The green tags will be used to fund new wind turbines that reduce the need for electricity generated by burning CO2-causing fossil fuels such as coal.
For the remaining CO2 emissions caused by Sea Otter spectator travel, onsite generators, race support vehicles and media, Clif Bar will offer $2 Cool Tags at its booth. Each Cool Tag funds enough clean wind energy to offset approximately 300 miles of car travel.
“We are delighted to join with Clif Bar as 'Partners in Sustainability' and through this initiative underscore our long commitment to limiting our footprint around the Monterey Peninsula and reinforcing the message that Clif Bar has been sharing about 'global cooling,' ” said Michael Phillips, Sea Otter's director of sponsorship services. “We hope to set an example for environmental sensitivity that other events can use as a model. Our partnership with Clif Bar helps make this possible.”
Skipper the Sea Otter with a Future Olympian BMX'er
Other incentives will be given to Sea Otter athletes, spectators, vendors, sponsors, media and volunteers to encourage them to do their part in helping to evolve the festival into a green event. These include premier reserved parking in the Paddock area for pedal powered vehicles, carpools (3 or more per vehicle) and hybrid vehicles.
The preferred method of transportation at Sea Otter is on a bike. Spectators are encouraged to ride bikes to the event and/or bring them along so they don't miss any of the action going on in other parts the Laguna Seca Recreational Area. Spectators also will be encouraged to use recycling stations that will be set up throughout the festival.
