16 replies to this topic

[ecoski2008]

Hello,

I'm writing a dissertation about ecological (wind powered) ski resorts. I'm mostly interested in wind poweredski lifts, their construction, technical details or the ski resorts they're in. I've been searching for theinformation but it was fruitless so far. Do you perhaps have some info about them? I mean, links, designs, pictures, whatever. You're my only hope!

Thanks in advance :)

[Peter]

Many ski resorts in North America claim to run their lifts on wind power because they buy Renewable Energy Credits or REC's. This means that the resort pays for enough renewable energy to be put into the electrical grid to power the lifts. However, there is no way to specify where that wind power is actually used. The exception to this is Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts, which has put up a 1.5 Megawatt General Electric wind turbine on the top of their resort. It produces about a third of the electricity that the resort needs. You can find out about it here: http://www.jiminypeak.com/page.php?PageID=...ind+Turbine+FAQ

[Lift Dinosaur]

ecoski2008,
It's a sad state when you have to come to this forum to learn about "Wind powered ski lifts".
IMHO, most of what you read about skilifts and ski areas being "green" and "Wind powered" means that they are buying "energy credits" to support wind power. Their lifts may or may not be actually powered by wind generated energy.
I wish you well on your project...

...and there will be others to chime in regarding their operations - Snowmass???

Dino

[Kicking Horse]

Hey,

There are 2-3 hrs worth of reading at this link; http://www.aspensnow...om/environment/

[mcjones55]

Mars Hill Wind in Maine has some turbines on or near the Bigrock Ski Area. Due to the way the Electrical grid works, the Ski area isn't "wind powered" but i'm sure if you followed the electrons, some of them make it from the Turbine to the motor room.

www.marshillwind.com
bigrockmaine.com

[Andoman]

ecoski2008, on Nov 10 2008, 08:51 PM, said:

Hello,

I'm writing a dissertation about ecological (wind powered) ski resorts. I'm mostly interested in wind poweredski lifts, their construction, technical details or the ski resorts they're in. I've been searching for theinformation but it was fruitless so far. Do you perhaps have some info about them? I mean, links, designs, pictures, whatever. You're my only hope!

Thanks in advance :)

Well I know crystal mountain in Michigan buys wind power credits to run it's lifts, however, I know that Boyne Mountain has a hydroelectric station on the property. If I remember right it's 300 kw, I think you can find some info on it at Boyne.com. I couldn't find it just looking at the front page but I know the dam is there and functioning. Hope this helps.

EDIT: Found it Boyne Stewardship

This post has been edited by Andoman: 12 November 2008 - 07:29 AM

[Haulrope]

I wonder what the ratio would have to be between the size of a wind turbine and the length of a lift. Even if the whole resort can't be wind powered, could it be possible to set up wind turbines that could directly power a lift?

Another idea I had at the top of a fixed grip on a windy day, it most likely wouldn't work and would eat brake shoes, but it would be cool to have a giant anemometer on top of the top bullwheel to directly drive the lift. If the cups were big enough, it might help the electric drive, but good luck getting the thing to stop or maintain speed on a windy day.

[liftmech]

We buy wind credits to offset the coal-generated power we use. Our marketing department placed signs to this effect all over the hill, which led to the inevitable question 'it's calm today- how can you run the lifts?'

[Keymech]

I also had a comment by a guest in the same vain. When working at Keystone, who had said signs all over the resort as well, Guest asked me when doing my weekly diesel run on Outpost. " Can't fool me that lift is not wind powered, I know a diesel when I hear one"

[2milehi]

Keymech, on Mar 6 2009, 06:26 AM, said:

I also had a comment by a guest in the same vain. When working at Keystone, who had said signs all over the resort as well, Guest asked me when doing my weekly diesel run on Outpost. " Can't fool me that lift is not wind powered, I know a diesel when I hear one"

You haven't become a Bruins fan also?!?!?

This post has been edited by 2milehi: 06 March 2009 - 07:51 AM

[Keymech]

2milehi, on Mar 6 2009, 08:49 AM, said:

You haven't become a Bruins fan also?!?!?

Wen't to see them play the caps. last Sat. Got to see Ovechcin score. Good game, Caps. by one in O.T.

[floridaskier]

I saw Ovechkin's hat trick against us (Panthers) here a couple weeks ago. Good game until he got the empty-netter to win it for them

PCMR has wind credit signs too. They say the six packs are powered by wind energy

[SkiBachelor]

Timberline Resort and Mt. Bachelor both have signs up talking about how they're off setting their carbon foot print by purchasing wind energy, although they technically aren't at all.

92% of their power comes from hydroelectricity and the remaining comes from the nuclear plant in Washington.

[Peter]

SkiBachelor, on Mar 6 2009, 05:52 PM, said:

Timberline Resort and Mt. Bachelor both have signs up talking about how they're off setting their carbon foot print by purchasing wind energy, although they technically aren't at all.

92% of their power comes from hydroelectricity and the remaining comes from the nuclear plant in Washington.

Boyne Resorts claims to "offset" the entire carbon footprint of all of their resorts by protecting 41 acres of rainforest in Peru from logging. I understand that the rainforests absorb carbon, but is preventing them from being logged really offsetting the enormous impact of 11 large Mountain Resorts?

[liftmech]

It's all marketing. Has anyone seen SkiCo's ads in major skiing magazines? Same thing. The thing is, SkiCo actually is trying to move toward a 'greener' operating plan; they have solar panels powering the PHQ building at Highlands and are actively working towards wind turbines over at Snowmass. The rest of us buy those offset things and our PR guys feel good about it. The only green way to ski is to hike up under your own power and ski back down. Of course, then we'd all lose our jobs. I think it's admirable that some places are trying to lighten their load on the planet, but realistically speaking, there's no good way to do it.
*end rant*

[DonaldMReif]

Vail Resorts (Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone) claim to use wind credits that save the same amount of energy as removing 18,000 cars from the road.

[Kicking Horse]

liftmech, on Mar 7 2009, 07:26 AM, said:

It's all marketing. Has anyone seen SkiCo's ads in major skiing magazines? Same thing. The thing is, SkiCo actually is trying to move toward a 'greener' operating plan; they have solar panels powering the PHQ building at Highlands and are actively working towards wind turbines over at Snowmass. The rest of us buy those offset things and our PR guys feel good about it. The only green way to ski is to hike up under your own power and ski back down. Of course, then we'd all lose our jobs. I think it's admirable that some places are trying to lighten their load on the planet, but realistically speaking, there's no good way to do it.
*end rant*

Skico also has a huge Solar panel array about 1/2 mile from my apt. My Apt also has solar panels on top. (employee housing). I heard that the new Sams Smokehouse has solar panels also but not seen them. I will try to verify it.