National Ski Areas Association has listed Mt Abram as one of three finalists (and only East Coast Ski Area) in the Small Ski area category for a Golden Eagle Award for Environmental Excellence
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Greenwood, ME (April 18, 2012) Maine’s Mt. Abram Ski Area has received high honors from the National Ski Areas Association for their switch from fossil fuel based sources of heating three buildings to wood pellets, a carbon neutral source.
In the fall of 2011 Mt. Abram received a “D” Energy Box from Maine Energy Systems* that heats the 5500 square foot base lodge using renewable and locally sourced wood pellets. The installation resulted in Mt. Abram no longer requiring 12,000 gallons of #2 heating oil per year. The wood pellets used originate from Maine grown sources that are certified as sustainably harvested by a third-party agency and are delivered from a distribution facility six miles from Mt. Abram.
In addition to the “D” Energy Box Mt. Abram added a pellet burning stove which heats the ticket and rental shop while a window unit heats the patrol building at the top of the mountain.
“Switching from the fossil fuel heavy #2 heating oil to the carbon neutral locally sourced wood pellet boiler was an easy decision based on our current goals as a ski area. The move was also pushed to the forefront of our ‘greening’ timeline due to the destruction of our oil boiler in the fire (July, 6, 2011),” said interim Director of Sustainability Erin Bragg. “The electric wiring in the ticket and rental shop was partially damaged in the fire forcing slight construction. Due to the availability of labor we decided to continue our pursuit waning from fossil fuels and switch out the propane-based heater in this building with a premium wood pellet stove. As the ball was rolling, we had nothing stopping us from switching out the propane unit in the top patrol shack with a better fitted wood pellet window unit.”
The base area Pellet Project was the 2nd project under the Areas Sustainable Slopes Program. In 2010 the National Ski Areas Association* honored Mt. Abram for their snowmaking efficiency through a Sustainable Slopes environmental grant.
The winner of the Golden Eagle Awards will be announced at NSAA’s National Convention in San Antonio, Texas on Monday, May 7, 2012.
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Mt. Abram is located in Greenwood, Maine, just off Route 26, 5 miles south of beautiful Bethel Village. Mt. Abram is an unpretentious, non-factory, skier and rider centric ski area with unique terrain for all abilities and ages. For more info visit www.mtabram.com , www.facebook.com/skimtabram or call 207-875-5000.
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