Cannon Snowmaking
Cannon
Mountain gets OK for major energy-efficiency project that will let it make more
snow for less
By John Koziol
Union Leader Correspondent
FRANCONIA — Come this ski season, Cannon Mountain, thanks to several major
upgrades, will reduce its energy usage by a third while adding 50 percent more
snowmaking capability at no additional cost.
Cannon officials on Wednesday confirmed that on July 13, Gov. Maggie Hassan and
the Executive Council approved a request by the Department of Resources and
Economic Development to enter into a Master Lease/Purchase agreement with
Pinnacle Public Finance in the amount of $5,907,512 to cover the cost of a
contract with Ameresco Inc. of Framingham, Mass.
Hassan and the Executive Council then approved a second request from DRED and
Cannon to enter a contract with Ameresco to “install and enact energy
efficiency and conservation measures” for both Cannon’s snowmaking and energy-supply
systems.
The cost of the project will be borne entirely by DRED, said Commissioner Jeff
Rose in a June 15 letter to Hassan and the Executive Council.
Although the contract with Ameresco extends only through Nov. 30, 2017, the
company has guaranteed that for five years after the project acceptance date,
Cannon, according to the contract, “will realize energy and cost savings” of
$386,565 annually. The energy savings will offset the annual bonding costs,
resulting in what was described in the requests as a “net zero project cost.”
In addition to the initial five years, the state can expand the guaranteed
savings period for three more five-year periods for a total of 20 years.
Ameresco will install 388 high efficiency/high output snow guns, Rose wrote, as
well as a new booster pump house to add “up to 50 percent more water output at
a lower energy output and cost,” in addition to installing “a new and more
efficient primary power supply line and high- and low-voltage transformers.”
When the measures are installed, “Cannon Mountain will reduce its energy
consumption by approximately 33 percent,” said Rose, while also generating the
aforementioned annual savings in energy costs.
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Comments
NH hasn't done that and the VT Efficiency program was open to all entrants. It would seem that DRED is footing the bill for this only because of the nature of Cannon's ownership.
Also an HKD Impulse is $3500-4500 so if you do the math on that for 388 guns even with the booster house and power lines it certainly isn't a deal. The VT areas were getting them for dirt cheap trading in the old ones.
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ropeways.net | Home | 2016-08-05
Energy Efficiency Initiative at Cannon Mountain Expected to Cut Consumption 30 Percent
Major improvements at Cannon and Mittersill for this winter
New Valar T-bar honors legendary ski instructors
FRANCONIA, N.H. —The Valar T-Bar on Mittersill slopes at Cannon Mountain is bright red and the cherry on top for a summer of major improvements to this state-owned and operated ski area.
It could also be a game changer for ski racing in the region, particularly benefitting the University of New Hampshire ski team, Franconia Ski Club and the Holderness School which plan to host events here, including the NCAA's in March, 2017.
The $600,000 surface lift tips its hat to other surface lifts at Mittersill since the 1950s and is preferred by ski racers and their coaches.
It gives the maximum number of runs in the least amount of time and a valued training space.
It is a coach's dream come true.
No state money was used to build this t-Bar.
It is a gift to the state from donors in honor of the late ski instructorsPaul and Paula Kann Valar.
John DeVivo, general manager of Franconia State Park, said Monday that the T-bar is an "homage...to their service not only to the skiers of New Hampshire but to the ski industry at large."
The T-bar is the finishing touch to a massive summer of improvements for the state's ski area.
Huge gains in snowmaking should be expected this winter.
DeVivo noted thanks for the fundraising efforts spearheaded by the friends of Franconia Ski Club, Holderness School and several other organizations.
Here’s what DeVivo said has been going on this summer:
• The Mitersill Trail Improvement project, at $4 million fundraising effort nearing completion. This includes improvements on Baron's Run a widening of a main trail and t-bar, along with snowmaking.
• About $5 million in snowmaking, energy efficiency and infrastructure, not yet complete.
• About 420 new, state-of-the-art HKD snowmaking guns and three new HKD fan guns on the Cannon side.
- About 60 SnowLogic snowmaking guns on the Mittersill side, in addition to 60 last year.
• A new booster pumphouse at mid-mountain to add 50 percent more snowmaking capacity up top.
• Overall snowmaking capacity will increase by 50 percent.
• Energy efficiency. There will be a drop expected in overall snowmaking energy consumption, by about 60 percent due to new equipment.
• Snow grooming. A new $350K t Prinoth Bison-X groomer.
• A new, $130,000 warming hut and restroom facility at Mittersill.
DeVivo notes the timing is good as the University of New Hampshire plans to host its Division 1 Winter Carnival in January and the NCAA Alpine Championships in March 2017.
For more on helping the fundraising efforts still underway, visit http://www.franconiaskiclub.com/
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