The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) and Ted's Montana Grill today announced that Ted’s Montana Grill has become the first in the restaurant sector to balance a portion of its water footprint through the investment in Water Restoration Certificates®. The Ted’s commitment will restore 5 million gallons of water to the Colorado River Basin over two years and represents a landmark sustainability move in the industry that builds on the restaurant company’s rich history of innovation and leadership around sustainability. The Water Restoration Certificate® program is the only environmental product that enables businesses to balance their water footprint and restore water to critically dewatered streams and rivers.

Through the purchase of WRCs, Ted’s Montana Grill will restore 2.5 million gallons of water to critically dewatered Colorado Basin tributaries for two consecutive years. This commitment effectively balances the annual water footprint of three Colorado restaurants for two years – Lakewood, Westminster and Boulder. The company’s first-year commitment helped restore 2.5 million gallons to Colorado’s Yampa River, directly supporting the local recreation-based economy and the needs of fish and wildlife during severe drought.

“This investment in water restoration certificates expands our sustainability efforts beyond simply water conservation,” notes George McKerrow, co-founder/CEO for Ted’s Montana Grill. “It provides a mechanism for balancing our water footprint while also contributing to environmental restoration efforts in our own backyard.”

Founded in 2002, Ted’s has demonstrated a commitment to the mantra reduce, reuse, recycle. Energy-efficient and low-flow fixtures are installed in all 44 restaurant locations across 16 states. The reuse of cooking oil helps reduce air pollution, carbon emissions, and reliance on imported petroleum. Additionally, the company recycles more than 370 tons of plastic, glass, and aluminum each year. For more information visit www.tedsmontanagrill.com.

BEF delivers a full suite of innovative energy, carbon and water solutions that are helping to redefine corporate sustainability. By working with farmers, NGOs, private foundations and corporations, BEF enables its business partners to meaningfully balance their environmental impact, invest in clean energy and carbon reduction, educate the next generation of energy consumers, and restore the health of freshwater resources.

Launched in 2009, BEF’s Water Restoration Certificate® Program aims to address diminishing fresh water supplies in the United States. Every certificate represents 1,000 gallons of water restored to critically dewatered streams and rivers. To-date, BEF has helped restore more than 7.6 billion gallons of water to western rivers.

“Their long-term commitment to sustainability and popularity with mainstream America makes Ted’s Montana Grill an ideal partner for BEF,” said Todd Reeve, CEO for the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. “With more than 4.6 million customers yearly, we hope there’s an opportunity to raise awareness with the general public about issues that are affecting our freshwater supply.”

About Ted’s Montana Grill

Ted’s Montana Grill is inspired by the Old West and a simpler time, when saloons served authentic food and drink to everyone, from cowboys to land barons, and genuine hospitality was a virtue. Ted’s is known for its time-honored American favorites, from freshly made traditional comfort food to special signature dishes. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ted’s Montana Grill was co-founded in 2002 by Ted Turner, media entrepreneur, environmentalist and philanthropist, and award-winning restaurateur George McKerrow. Learn more at www.tedsmontanagrill.com, or find Ted’s on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tedsmontanagrill or on Twitter, @tedmontanagrill.

About Bonneville Environmental Foundation

At Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), we believe addressing the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges requires innovation, creative problem solving and discovering a new way of doing business that values the natural resources we depend on. We are entrepreneurs for the planet. Through a full suite of innovative energy, carbon and water solutions we are helping our partners—from the farmer to the corporation—redefine how business gets done. We help our partners meaningfully balance their environmental impact, invest in clean energy and carbon reduction, educate the next generation of clean energy leaders, and effectively and sustainably restore the health of our freshwater resources. www.b-e-f.org

Bonneville Environmental Foundation

Bonneville Environmental Foundation

An entrepreneurial nonprofit, Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is creating a more sustainable future by investing now in clean energy and fresh water. Customers who buy independently certified BEF Carbon Offsets and Renewable Energy Certificates support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the development of new renewable energy facilities, while customers who buy BEF's Water Restoration CertificatesTM support the return of water to critically dewatered streams and rivers. All BEF customers and donors support long-term watershed restoration and renewable energy education for students and communities nationwide because BEF reinvests its net revenues to fund its Model Watershed and Solar 4R Schools programs. Since it was established in Portland, Ore. in 1998, BEF has been a pioneer in helping people and companies become better stewards of the environment. Learn more at www.b-e-f.org.

More from Bonneville Environmental Foundation