Mount Snow To Invest 5 Million in Energy Efficient Snowmaking

04/30/2008 - Mount Snow announced today that it will install 150+ energy-efficient fan guns this summer, eliminating its need for diesel-powered air compressors used in snowmaking operations and saving an average of 200,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year. When the ski resort opens for the 2008-09 season, it will have over 250 new-technology fan guns, the most of any resort in North America. The $5 million project is part of an expansive snowmaking investment by Mount Snow’s new owners, Peak Resorts. Several well-trafficked trails will be flanked by the new guns, including Ridge, Meadow, Upper Nitro, Lower Titanium, Mine Shaft, Deer Run, Canyon, Lodge, and Lower Exhibition, as well as other assorted locations. Each new-technology fan gun runs on electricity and features its own on-board air compressor. This eliminates the need to run compressed air through miles of pipe laid across the mountain, and the 16 diesel-powered compressors that supply those pipes are now obsolete. Peak Resorts purchased 101 SMI Polecat Fan Guns and dozens of “low energy” guns for winter 2007-08. With a big boost from the fan guns’ increased efficiency, both in speed and output, Mount Snow was the first ski area to open in Vermont — with top-to-bottom skiing and a terrain park on day one — and was among the last to close in late April. Fan guns are able to make more snow in varying weather, and produce better quality snow overall. Being green-minded is nothing new to Mount Snow. As a business that conducts its operations primarily outdoors, reducing environmental impact has been an important cultural initiative since its inception. Recent innovations include collecting used motor oil and grease from its maintenance facility, using it as fuel to heat the entire three-story building. Spent, soy-based oil used for frying foods in the base lodges is also filtered and used as heating fuel. Excess heat produced by electric generators in the snowmaking control room is transported through insulated, underground pipes to the Main Base Lodge, where it is circulated throughout the building to provide comfortable, radiant heating. Mount Snow places a recycling container next to nearly every garbage can and dumpster on its campus. Brand new lampposts were erected this season with efficient fluorescent bulbs. The Grand Summit Hotel uses an earth-friendly saline solution to sanitize its pool, rather than harsh chlorine. New directional signs installed last summer were secured in the ground with local fieldstones, rather than invasive poured concrete. The large-format printer in the Mount Snow Sign Shop uses earth-friendly, soy-based ink. Mount Snow is the single largest private contributor to the Deerfield Valley Transit Authority. Known as MOOvers, the DVTA’s buses (painted like Holstein cows) provide free daily connecting service to six area towns for residents and visitors. Some of the MOOVer vehicles are fueled by 100% treated vegetable oil with no diesel additive, with plans to convert more. According to Dave Moulton, Mount Snow’s Director of Mountain Operations, the mountain will continue to research and invest in emerging, environmentally friendly energy in the future. “We thrive because we have a beautiful mountain here,” said Moulton. “And it’s our responsibility to preserve that beauty.”