Commercial, Demand Management, Energy Efficiency, Regulation  -  October 27, 2017

State ski resort completes $5M efficiency overhaul

A state-owned ski resort in New Hampshire recently completed a $5.1 million energy efficiency overhaul, including the replacement of nearly 400 snow guns, funded through the state's energy performance contract. 

According to a news release, the largest of the energy conservation measures at Cannon Mountain Ski Area was the replacement of 388 existing energy-intensive, land-based air/water snow guns with tower mounted low-energy snow guns, and some portables. The new tower guns greatly reduced compressed air energy as well as the labor required to move the old land guns around the mountain.

The project is budget-neutral, with savings from the reduction in energy to be used to pay off the bond within 16 years, according to the news release from Ameresco, which contracted with the state for the project in July 2016. In total, the upgrades are expected to reduce Cannon Mountain's energy consumption by 30%; annual energy cost savings are expected to be approximately $386,000.

The project's conservation measures also included replacement of Cannon's main-trunk power line with a new and more efficient primary power supply line and high- and low-voltage transformer to help increase power reliability and energy efficiency. In addition, upgrades were performed to enhance lighting and weatherization that are creating significant energy savings and improve operational efficiency on the mountain.

The work to install and enact energy efficiency and conservation measures for both Cannon's snowmaking and energy-supply systems has been underway for the past year.

"The completion of this project is a significant achievement in support of the state's commitment to reduce its energy consumption 50% by 2030," Commissioner Jeffrey Rose of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, which oversees the operation of Cannon Mountain, said in a statement. "No matter how you look at it, this project is a win-win. It helps us achieve our overall efficiency and sustainability goals while reducing energy consumption and energy costs, and provides critical upgrades to important ski area infrastructure."

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