Congresswoman Dean and USDA Deputy Secretary Torres tour Spring Mountain to highlight clean energy investments in rural areas

Congresswoman Madeleine Dean and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres pose for a photo during a tour of Spring Mountain Adventures in Upper Salford County. (John Worthington – MediaNews Group)

UPPER SALFORD — Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small and other dignitaries visited Spring Mountain Adventures last week to highlight the company’s investments in clean energy.

Under the federal Inflation Reduction Act, the year-round ski facility received a $670,000 Rural Energy for America (REAP) grant to install solar panels. REAP provides loan and grant financing to agricultural producers and small rural businesses for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements.

Spring Mountain owner Rick Buckman said the REAP grant would fund about 40% of the solar panel installation, making the project feasible.

“The electricity savings alone would make this not worth the investment, but the grant makes it doable,” Buckman said. “This makes the project a no-brainer.”

Buckman said the project will significantly reduce the company’s energy costs, noting the exorbitant amount of electricity used by snowmaking equipment and cooling units at the ice rinks. He cited the company’s biggest source of energy costs as a large snowmaking machine on the ski slope, which was recently installed because warmer winters cut down on snowmaking time.

“The need was due to global warming, but it uses so much electricity that we thought we were contributing to it, so solar energy makes me feel better about doing it,” Buckman said.

Torres Small and Dean stressed the importance of investing in underserved communities and welcomed the benefits the project will bring to both the environment and the local economy.

“This is a clear victory and a great example of what investing in America’s small rural communities can achieve,” said Torres Small.

“We were incredibly proud to pass this legislation, knowing it would bring opportunities to rural areas, small businesses and family-owned businesses, and their commitment simply shows,” Dean added. “They are not here to make a fortune, but they feel responsible for the planet and their community.”