Our Mission

Environmental Programs

Sea Otter Classic's Path To Sustainability

For 17 years organizers of the Sea Otter Classic have been committed to reducing the event's ecological footprint on the Laguna Seca Recreation Area and the adjacent Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property.

Carbon dioxide is the major cause of global warming. In the coming years, Sea Otter, in partnership with Clif Bar & Co. and their Climate Neutral Program, will work together to purchase enough clean wind energy credits to offset the carbon emissions created by the event through air travel, auto travel and other sources of pollution.

The estimated tonnage of CO2 emissions produced by participant travel (to and from) Sea Otter 2006 was 747.9 tons of CO2, according to NativeEnergy, a renewable energy firm that helps businesses and individuals offset the environmental impact of their energy use. This is by far the biggest part of the equation and the portion which Sea Otter and Clif Bar will offset together through the purchase of wind energy credits from NativeEnergy which will help fund construction of new tribal-owned wind farms and family farm-owned methane projects. For the remaining emissions (spectator travel, onsite: generators, race support vehicles and media) "we" looked to visitors be they racers or spectators, to purchase $2 Cool Tags from the Clif Bar booth for additional CO2 offset. Each Cool Tag offsets approximately 300 miles of car travel.

Incentives will be given to athletes, spectators, vendors, sponsors, media and volunteers to encourage them to do their part in helping to evolve the festival into a green event. Incentives 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 strongly encouraged to ride bikes to the event and/or bring them along so they don't miss out on any of the action going on at the Laguna Seca Recreational Area.