Solar Facility To Provide Utah Ski Resorts With Power Reaches Commercial Operation
Yesterday, D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) announced that Elektron Solar, an 80 MWac solar facility located in Tooele County, UT, had reached commercial operation.
The facility will provide power to Vail Resorts on behalf of Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort, alongside non-ski-resort customers that include Salt Lake City, Park City, Summit County, and Utah Valley University.
“The completion of the Elektron Solar Project in Utah means that Park City Mountain's electricity will be 100% solar-powered directly through the local grid,” said Deirdra Walsh, Vice President and COO of Park City Mountain.
Driven by Vail Resorts' Commitment to Zero, Park City Mountain achieved 100% renewable energy in 2022 and hopes to secure a net zero operational footprint—a metric that includes carbon emissions, forest impacts, and landfill usage—by 2030.
Deer Valley Resort President & Chief Operating Officer Todd Bennett explained that his resort will now receive 80% of its power from Elektron Solar. “This initiative is a significant step in the right direction,” Bennett said. Deer Valley plans to rely entirely on renewable energy by 2030.
Environmental Protection Agency metrics indicate that Elektron Solar will power approximately 19,700 homes each year.
The construction of Elektron Solar faced several hang-ups over the years caused primarily by the sourcing of required materials.
"The success of this project shows what happens when you set inspiring goals, work with the right partners, and refuse to give up," said Salt Lake City Sustainability Director Debbie Lyons. "It delivers on a promise Salt Lake City leaders made nearly eight years ago: to source the majority of our electricity for municipal operations from renewable energy. And starting this month, that promise becomes reality."
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