Three state operated ski resorts, including Gore
Mountain in North Creek, have committed to using
solar power to operate ski lift and snowmaking
operations and will get help from New York state
in doing so.
The other two are at Belleayre and Whiteface
Mountain.
“By using renewable energy to power major
operations at these world-class ski resorts, we
are building upon this administration’s commitment
to expand this state’s use of renewal energy,
strengthen this important, job-creating economic
sector, and reduce New York’s carbon footprint,”
said Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “This exciting news
is just one more reason to visit one of New York’s
premier ski resorts this winter.”
A 25-year power purchase agreement with
Borrego Solar is the most recent environmental
initiative the state and ORDA have undertaken to
run its business units with increased sustainability and efficiency.
The solar energy for Gore, produced at a location
in Washington County, is expected to reduce
Gore’s energy bill by over $213,000 during the first
year. Borrego’s projections indicate that the three
ski resorts could save as much $14-million over the
25-year period, utilizing more than 10 megawatts
of solar power.
It is also in keeping with the Reforming the Energy
Vision’s NY-Sun initiative, a $1-billion initiative
to advance the scale-up of solar and move the state
closer to having a sustainable, self-sufficient solar
industry as New York builds a clean, resilient and
affordable energy system.
Gore Mountain is home to the most skiable
terrain and largest lift infrastructure in New York
state, and its massive snowmaking system, lift
operations, and other electrical equipment use
about 13-million kilowatt hours of power and cost approximately $1 million in utility costs each year,
according to state officials.
The solar projects received support from NYSun
through the New York State Energy Research
and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which
administers the initiative.
“With this initiative ORDA will substantially
reduce its carbon footprint essentially akin to
removing over 46,000 cars from the road over the
life of the agreement,” said ORDA chairman Pat
Barrett. “We want to make sure that this wonderful
recreational sport stays around for generations
to come.”
“These projects demonstrate an innovative use
of solar energy, which is helping a wide range of
businesses across New York state reduce electricity
costs and preserve the environment,” said John B.
Rhodes, president and CEO, NYSERDA.
The solar power project is the latest sustainable
endeavor for all three resorts. Over the past two
years, Gore Mountain has added 260 low-energy high-efficiency guns to its snowmaking fleet, along
with a several powerful fan guns, state officials said.
Low-energy, high-efficiency guns use the same
amount of water as a traditional gun, but the air
that these guns use is 25 percent of a traditional
gun. The energy savings come from running compressors
for a shorter period of time, while making
more snow in less time and shortening the snowmaking
season.
Officials said over the last two seasons, Gore
has operated more lifts for more days than ever
before, while using less energy than in past. It has
received three international Silver Eagle awards:
for Excellence in Environmental Group Relations,
Environmental Education, and Excellence of
Visual Impact Resources.
According to the governor’s office, under NYSun,
the growth of solar in New York state has
increased more than 300 percent from 2011 to
2014, which is twice the rate of U.S. solar growth
overall.