Commercial, Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Sourcing Renewables  -  February 6, 2023

Lake Superior National Parks  Launches Decarbonization Plan

The National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation (NPLSF), the philanthropic partner of the five national parks, will decarbonize its land-based operations across five national parks. 

A decarbonization plan was created by the Willdan Group, Inc., along with an investment plan, for each of the parks to achieve 100% GHG emissions reduction in land-based operations by eliminating fossil fuel use and switching to renewable electricity.

The plan proposes an estimated investment of $15 million across the parks, a broad set of energy efficiency upgrades, and the electrification of space and water heating in 131 buildings and all land-based vehicles, including cars, trucks, and utility vehicles. 

A diverse set of technologies will be used to achieve this plan which also proposes air-source cold climate heat pumps as a cost-effective alternative to propane for space heating.

“Decarbonizing is not only the right thing to do for our five parks on Lake Superior, but it will also act as a realistic model for other National Parks and public lands,” said Tom Irvine, the Executive Director of the NPLSF, in a statement. “Once you see the visitor’s center at the Grand Portage National Monument heated by an air-source heat pump instead of propane, you realize it can be done in your own home. When you are standing on the shores of the Isle Royale National Park at dusk . . . you won’t hear the drone of a diesel generator kicking in, just the deafening silence of the most remote wilderness area in the continental United States.”

The plan was catalyzed by a key investment from Askov Finlayson, a certified B Corporation and climate-positive winter outerwear brand.