Sea Otter getting greener

The Sea Otter Classic announced its "Path to Sustainability" initiative to reduce its environmental impact at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area and adjacent Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property where the annual four-day festival will be held April 12 - 15, 2007, near Monterey, California.

"In our efforts to one day build an entirely 'green' event model, we will continue to build creative partnerships with environmentally conscious companies who are dedicated to reducing their environmental impact on this planet," said Frank Yohannan, president and CEO of Sea Otter Classic. "We're proud to have Toyota as a new partner in our Path to Sustainability and delighted to welcome back Clif Bar & Company and their expertise in guiding us to achieve a 100 percent 'Climate Neutral' rating for the event."

Those who arrive at the Sea Otter any hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle will claim a spot in a premier reserved parking area. Pedal-powered vehicles and carpools of three or more people per vehicle will also gain access.

Last year, organizers purchased enough clean wind energy credits from Native Energy to completely offset the estimated 748 tons of CO2 emissions making the event 100 percent "Climate Neutral." The organization was commended by the surrounding county for its recycling efforts and by the Bureau of Land Management, which reported that the land in which the event took place was returned in better condition than it was received thanks crews who spent several days cleaning up, seeding, reseeding, and vegetating the land.

"When we're talking about minimizing the environmental impact of our daily lives, a bicycle can be a powerful tool," said Peter Berridge, field marketing manager for Clif Bar & Co. "I love a good bike race, but I also value my bike for transportation and the fight against global warming. In fact, this year our staff will be going car-free to the Sea Otter Classic."