$6B Economic Impact Wins Respect for Outdoor Industry's Conservation Efforts

None by KCPW

Utah Wilderness Day Tuesday

(KCPW News) The Outdoor Industry Foundation says outdoor recreation has an annual economic impact of $6 billion a year in Utah and accounts for 65,000 jobs. That’s making state officials more receptive to conserving wilderness, says Scott Groene of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, which celebrates Utah Wilderness Day tomorrow.

“When the Outdoor Industry a couple years ago spoke up about the importance of their industry and threatened to pull the [Outdoor Retailer] tradeshow from Salt Lake City, they got the governor’s attention. And it changed the debate from one that protecting lands would devastate local economies to not only would they not devastate local economies but there was actually a benefit to protecting lands.”

Groene says being eco-friendly isn’t just for activists like SUWA. It’s also good business. Peter Cole is the owner of Squatter’s Brewery in downtown Salt Lake City. Cole says his brewpub has garnered support from the green community and customers for installing urinals that conserve water and choosing recycled glassware – glassware that costs four-times more than new pint glasses. He says he’s even winning over skeptics in his industry:

“We have lots of people that have called us over the last few years and asked us, ‘Are you really serious, does this actually happen?’ And we’ve shared as much information as we can – we’re happy to share that information with everybody,” Cole says.

You can learn more about conservation during SUWA’s Utah Wilderness Day party tomorrow night from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Gallivan Center. Governor John Huntsman and Mayor Rocky Anderson will be there, too. Admission is just $5.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2009 KCPW