Carrabassett Valley, ME – Following a winter with one of the lowest natural snow totals in recent memory, Sugarloaf officials announced today that the Maine ski and snowboard resort will invest $1 million in new low-energy snowmaking guns this summer. The new technology is expected to improve the resort’s ability to make snow in key areas and at warmer temperatures, while simultaneously reducing its electricity consumption.
The investment was made possible by a $300,000 business grant from Efficiency Maine, an independent trust dedicated to the efficient and cost-effective use of energy in order to save money for Maine residents, grow the economy, and create jobs. The competitive grant program allowed Maine businesses, institutions, and governments to compete for project funding for large electrical energy efficiency and distributed generation projects. The grant was awarded based on the expected energy savings from the new snowmaking technology and a commitment of a $700,000 investment from Sugarloaf.
The resort will use the funding to purchase 300 HKD SV10 Impulse snow guns featuring some of the most advanced energy-efficient snowmaking technology on the market. The new guns, manufactured by Snow Economics Inc. / HKD Snowmakers, will replace Sugarloaf’s older, less efficient snowmaking equipment. The HKD SV10 Impulse guns are able to make the same amount of snow using up to 90 percent less compressed air, depending on temperature. Compressed air production represents the largest area of electricity consumption in the snowmaking process.
“After the weather we saw last winter, we decided that upgrading our snowmaking capabilities needed to be a priority this summer,” Sugarloaf General Manager John Diller said. “Some of our sister resorts have experimented with this new low-energy technology over the past two seasons, so we know how well it works. It will allow us to produce more snow at key times, while reducing the overall amount of electricity we consume. It’s really a win-win.”
The new snowmaking technology will improve Sugarloaf’s ability to make snow at warmer temperatures and open trails early in the season, resulting in more available terrain during the important Christmas vacation period, resort officials indicate. In addition, the new equipment will allow the resort to build up larger base depths on key trails, improving its ability to stay open later in the spring.
Of the new snow guns, 275 will be installed on towers in fixed locations, while the remaining 25 will be sled-mounted guns that can be transported around the mountain and utilized in multiple locations. The fixed tower-guns will be installed primarily on central-mountain trails, including King’s Landing, Hayburner, Tote Road, Sluice, and Candyside.
The new equipment is expected to arrive at the resort in late summer and will be installed this fall, prior to Sugarloaf’s opening day for the 2012-13 winter season.