As our energy costs continue to spiral, I think all of us are concerned where this will end.   There are two ways to tackle this in our domestic worlds and in business alike.   Firstly, reduce the amount we use, and secondly, reduce the amount we need to purchase from elsewhere.   Succeeding in these two areas limits exposure and financial risk.   

Last year, a small family-owned New England resort did just that.   When installation of this turbine was completed in January, Berkshire East gained the distinction of becoming the world's first 100 percent wind-powered ski resort. 

Was the resort doing it for  ‘green’ reasons or financial reasons? 
I question whether it matters.  

For a resort to be sustainable in every sense of the word – it also needs to survive financially.   If it goes bankrupt all the economic and employment benefits to the local community are lost.

For small ski resorts, soaring energy costs are one of the main reasons they struggle.  Berkshire East's operators have said  that trading rising electricity bills for fixed loan payments, and free fuel costs, was essential to the area's continued economic viability.

The project was partially-backed by state and federal grants and should reach an economic “break-even" point within a decade.   

The installation also eliminates 1,400 tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions-the equivalent of taking about 250 cars off the road each year. 

The win-win nature of such projects is making them increasingly popular –and I hope many more resorts see the benefits of this approach.
 
 
A second Massachusetts ski area has completed installation of a major wind turbine in order to power the resort’s snowmaking, lifts and other facilities.  Berkshire East ski area’s new turbine joins that of Jiminy Peak.

The new 90 metre high turbine is expecting to produce 2.2 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year, the equivalent of the electricity needs of about 300 homes and 100% of the ski area’s requirements, about half that produced by Jiminy Peak’s turbine.

The turbine allows the family run ski area, which is the largest employer in the local area, to secure its operation for the next 25 years say the owners, when previously they had been concerned spiralling energy costs could make them no longer financially viable by 2015.

Veronica adds "As well as reducing the impact of their ski operations, and reducing their overall emissions, this creates security.  It is in everyone's interest to protect themselves as much as possible from the energy uncertainties of the future."
 
 
Bolton Valley Resort in Vermont became the first ski area in Vermont and only the second in the US to utilize wind power from an on-site wind turbine. The 100 kilowatt wind turbine cost about $750,000 and will provide around 15% of the resort’s power.  The distance from ground to the top of the blade is 156 feet, each blade is coated with Teflon to protect against icing.  Any power not consumed by Bolton Valley will be fed back into the electrical grid through the Vermont net metering program.

Funding for the project came in part from the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund and it is likely to be the first of many.   There are already clearings for power lines up to the hilltops in the ski resorts – so new visual impact is lessened.

"This is a watershed moment for the Vermont ski industry and in many ways the energy industry in Vermont," said Larry Williams, who with Doug Nedde, owns Bolton Valley. "We've demonstrated a commitment to 21st century approaches to energy generation and consumption solutions on a Vermont scale. Bolton Valley and its skiers and riders take great pride in being eco-friendly and will continue to work toward decreasing our impact on the environment."   Mr Williams said he hopes the resort will ultimately be 100% wind powered.