Hancock, MA – Eight years after installing North America’s first ski area wind turbine, Jiminy Peak in western Massachusetts’ Berkshire Mountains is adding solar to its renewable energy mix.
The resort has teamed up with Massachusetts-based project developer and owner Nexamp to launch construction of a new 2.3 megawatt Community Solar facility in Hancock. Combined with Jiminy Peak’s existing 1.5 megawatt wind turbine, 75 kWh Cogeneration unit, and extensive conservation efforts, this new solar project will enable the resort to offset 90% of its energy needs from local renewable resources, making Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort one of the greenest ski resorts in the nation. The solar project is expected to come online in the late fall.
In addition to powering the ski resort, an additional 200 homes near the resort may participate in the project. Through Nexamp’s Solarize My Bill Community Solar program, homeowners can benefit from 15% savings on their electricity costs with no enrollment fee. The company expects the program to be particularly attractive to customers looking to control utility costs but unable to install a project on their own property.
Once completed, the Jiminy Peak project will represent the largest community solar project in the Northeast.