New solar panel factory to power two Utah ski resorts

Park City, Utah – The ski industry continues to invest in renewable energy – Utah’s two largest ski resorts will now be partially powered by a solar plant.

The Elektron Solar Project held its ribbon cutting last week. Although the project was launched in May, the ribbon cutting celebrated the hard work that went into the project and its impact on the local communities. The project is a collaboration of six partners, three companies (Alterra Mountian Company, Utah State University, and Vail Resorts), two municipalities (Salt Lake City and Park City), and Summit County.

Hy Martin, chief development officer of DE Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), said in a May press release about the project:

“We are excited to have completed construction of the Elektron Solar facility. While the solar industry has faced headwinds over the past few years due to supply chain constraints and rising interest rates, this project has succeeded because of the strong partnerships between our customers and local stakeholders. Our team appreciates the continued support from our customers, Rocky Mountain Power and Tooele County.”

This 80-megawatt (MW) solar farm is a big deal for Park City ski resorts. It will provide Deer Valley with 80% of its power and allow Park City Mountain Resort to operate on 100% renewable energy. The solar panels will also power about 20,000 homes and various parts of Park City’s infrastructure, including public buses.

Deirdra Walsh, vice president and chief operating officer of Park City Mountain Resort, described the significance of this project in the context of Vail Resorts’ sustainability goals in May:

“I am incredibly proud that Vail Resorts’ commitment to net zero has enabled Park City Mountain to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2022. The completion of the Elektron Solar project in Utah means that Park City Mountain’s electricity will be powered 100% by solar energy directly from the local grid, increasing Vail Resorts’ overall renewable energy mix and increasing the resilience of our commitment to sustainable operations across our network. Projects like this provide us with the opportunity to grow sustainably while staying on schedule to meet our emissions goals and on track to achieve a net zero footprint by 2030.”

This development proves that the ski industry is starting to work towards a greener future.