Green power [01/12/2008]

Cranmore recognized for use of biofuel and bioheat

It was far from an ideal day for skiing, but Friday's rain helped to underscore the decades-old regional trend toward warmer weather, and the rainy slopes served as an appropriate backdrop to a forum at Cranmore Mountain Resort held to commemorate the ski area's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.On hand for the occasion as keynote speaker was state Commissioner of Environmental Services Steve Burack, who grew up in nearby Jackson and who noted that Cranmore was where he learned to ski as a child.He told the audience of 30 or so people that he took his 6-year-old son to Cranmore on New Year's Eve, and that it gave him great joy to be able to share the fun of skiing at North Conway's in-town resort with his young son.I am so glad my parents brought me here 40 years ago, and I am glad now to bring my son here. Let's make sure that 20 years from now, 40 years from now, 70 years from now, other dads and other moms can have that same experience with their children; to share that love for the sport, that love for the experience, said Burack.Burack described the impacts on climate change on New Hampshire's ski industry and why it is significant that Cranmore has led the way these past five years in demonstrating to other ski resorts in the state and nationally how they can take steps to reduce greenhouse gases. He said that left unchecked, global warming could lead to North Conway's climate to eventually resemble that of Pennsylvania or even North Carolina, a change that would greatly impact the region's winter snowsport-dependent economy, as well as its fall foliage and spring maple syrup seasons.Burack and fellow state Department of Environmental Services officials and representatives of the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition saluted Cranmore General Manager Ben Wilcox, Operations Manager Jim Mersereau and others for their efforts to use biofuel and bioheat.Mersereau first went to a climate change forum held at the Appalachian Mountain Club's Pinkham Notch Visitor Center five years ago. Through the initial help of a subsidy from the state Department of Environmental Services, the area experimented with biofuel and found it to be a viable alternative, Mersereau said. Also on hand Friday were representatives of Ragged Mountain and Bretton Woods ski areas, both of which are among the six SKI NH resorts that are following Cranmore's lead by using biofuels to power their grooming equipment and other vehicles.Burack said he thinks all New Hampshire ski resorts will be switching to biofuels within the next two or three years, now that diesel prices have continued to rise while biofuel costs have declined.Also in attendance were several state representatives, including Rep. Tom Buco, D-Conway.Burack said New Hampshire has made efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions that are comparable to taking 2,500 vehicles off the state's highways.We're pleased to recognize Cranmore for being a leader in using biofuel since the winter of 2003 and taking steps to reduce greenhouse gases," said Burack, who was appointed a little over a year ago. "Through this effort, combined with similar efforts throughout the state, we used an estimated one million gallons of biodiesel in 2007, resulting in an 11,000-ton reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These efforts and additional actions that will result from policies such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative will be critical in our fight to mitigate the impacts of climate change.Burack said the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is a collaborative effort to achieve reductions in carbon dioxide from fossil fuel power plants in 10 Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, including New Hampshire. State Rep. Naida Kaen, chair of the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee, said House Bill 1434 was introduced into the legislature Jan. 10.Burack read aloud a proclamation, written by Gov. John H. Lynch, applauding Cranmore. In the proclamation, Lynch saluted Cranmore for its leadership and initiative on climate change issues.Said Kaen, I am hopeful that other ski areas and businesses will follow Cranmore's lead and recognize the importance of addressing climate change and the economic benefits of doing so now rather than later.The event comes two months after Democratic presidential hopeful and former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Cranmore for a citizens' roundtable discussion on biofuels.Prior to Burack's comments Friday morning, Cranmore's Wilcox and Mersereau in interviews said the resort made headlines in 2003 when it became the first ski area east of the Mississippi to run its grooming equipment and other diesel vehicles on the then-innovative alternative fuel that few others were utilizing.Cranmore switched to biodiesel (B20) to operate its four groomers in 2003. Cranmore was the first eastern United States winter resort to switch to biodiesel (B20) instead of conventional fossil fuel diesel. The resort uses more than 20,000 gallons of 20 percent biodiesel fuel each year, which results in a 4,000 gallon reduction of conventional fossil fuel diesel. Cranmore has also invested in a 4,000-gallon above-ground, non-heated biodiesel storage tank with some collaborative help from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition.Cranmore has found that using biodiesel instead of conventional petroleum diesel has made a significant improvement in air quality, is cleaner running, and has less toxic emissions than conventional diesel. This is especially true when the machines are being worked on in the repair shop, said Mersereau, known locally in Mount Washington Valley as the Olympic Groomer for his being selected to be part of the grooming team at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.Cranmore has also found that not only is biodiesel better for the environment but it is convenient to use. We have never had any problems with the biodiesel fuel in the cold, and we didnt have to make any modifications to our machines in order to use the alternative fuel, Mersereau said.In the interest of expanding its influence within Mount Washington Valley and reducing emissions in the region, Wilcox said Cranmore is providing biodiesel fuel to the local Village Trolley, providers of shuttle buses to and from Cranmore and area hotels and motels.The trolleys, which circulate continuously around North Conway and the surrounding areas seven day a week, will carry placards announcing they are Powered by Cranmore Biodiesel.Jonathan Bliss of the Village Trolley drove one of the buses to Cranmore and parked it alongside the Arlberg Ski Lodge, where the forum was held.We'll be converting to biodiesel very soon, said Bliss after the forum.Kathy Bennett, director of marketing for Cranmore, said Cranmore this season instituted an anti-idling program for both staff and guests, instituting Clean Air Zones all around the resort. Motor vehicles are the leading source of air pollution in New Hampshire and one of the primary contributors of greenhouse gas emissions.The program's guidelines include: Asking all drivers to turn off engines when they reach their destination and expect to be parked for more than 10 seconds. Letting vehicles idle no more than necessary to bring them up to proper operating temperature generally 1 to 3 minutes in winter. Limit idling time overall to no more than 5 to 15 minutes (depending on temperature).People may be surprised to learn that running diesel generators at a ski resort has been found to generate a higher reading of particulate matter, a measurement of air pollution, than was measured in New York City shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, noted Wilcox. By following these simple guidelines, we can help reduce global warming and keep winter cool and our slopes white.In addition to Cranmore, he said 14 ski areas have adopted no-idling policies to reduce air pollution at drop-off areas.Cranmore is a member of the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition, a group of more than 70 stake-holders working in the transportation sector to bring alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicle projects in New Hampshire.As a result of the projects, the group maintains that in 2006, more than 1.3 million gallons of petroleum were offset through the use of cleaner alternative fuels such as biodiesel, compressed natural gas and propane, and through efficiency efforts such as idle reduction policies.Proponents note that biodiesel is the name of clean-burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression-ignition diesel engines with no major modifications. Advocates say the fuel is easy to use, biodegradable, nontoxic and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.Mersereau explained that Cranmore's diesel fuel is mixed with soy oil. Cranmore will host biodiesel days Jan. 12 and March 22, during which visitors may learn more about biofuels.For further information,go to www.des.nh.gov or Cranmore at www.cranmore.com.