Pennsylvania and Ski Resorts Commit to Renewable Energy

September 6, 2006

Pennsylvania has increased its purchase of electricity from renewable sources from 10 percent to 20 percent of the state's usage. The state has modified its agreement with Community Energy Inc. to purchase 200,000 megawatt-hours of power per year, of which 60 percent will come from hydroelectric sources and 40 percent will come from wind power. This new agreement will make Pennsylvania the largest state purchaser of energy from renewable sources. See the press release from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Four ski resorts are joining Pennsylvania in making commitments to renewable energy. The owners of Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado, Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, and Mount Sunapee Resort in New Hampshire have entered into an agreement with Gunnison County Electric Association to purchase 27 million kilowatt-hours in renewable energy certificates from Sterling Planet. Crystal Mountain in Michigan has also committed to wind energy and will power its chairlifts with wind power purchased from Cherryland Electric, with the goal of eventually powering the entire resort with renewable energy. These resorts follow on the heels of Vail Mountain Resorts, which recently announced that it would buy enough renewable energy certificates to provide 100 percent of its power. See the press releases from Crested Butte Mountain Resort and Crystal Mountain, as well as the Vail Mountain Resorts story from the August 9th issue of EERE Network News.