CORTLAND – The arrival of winter weather means the start of ski season. As ski resorts across the state prepare for the season, they’re hoping for snowfall, however, if they don’t get the amount they need, there are ways to make snow. 

“This project was really a win-win for us. It was able to reduce our energy costs, but also help us make more snow in the shorter windows that we have," said Greek Peak Mountain Resort Vice President Ayden Wilber. 

As we turn toward ski season, every ski resort is hoping for a winter full of snowflakes. However, in recent years, Mother Nature hasn't been on their side, so they've made snow themselves. 

“We mix water and air in our snow guns on the hill," Wilber said. "We have really high pressure water. That’s where the high-efficiency guns come into play.” 

It’s a process that can be costly and time consuming. But these energy efficient snow guns make it a lighter lift. 

“To put in 57 new snow guns to help their snow making process, reducing their energy consumption by 1.95 million kilowatt hours annually," said Lead Program Coordinator for National Grid's Corporate Affairs Travis Glazier. "It’s a 70% reduction.” 

“Historically, snowmaking was made with water that ran around 150 to 200 PSI," Wilber said. "Now, with this new technology, we’re running in the neighborhood of 300 to 500 PSI. We mix that with high pressure air and it makes snow as it comes out of the tip of the guns.” 

Wilber said the equipment saved them 300 hours of worktime last year. 

“The new high-efficiency snow guns are using a lot less air, so we’re able to save on our compressor usage and put more water to those guns, making it more efficient all the way around," said Greek Peak's Snowmaking Manager Jarrett Dilemma. "A lot of the older guns were also a lot heavier, a lot less easy to move around the hill, so now we’re getting into more of fixed assets.”

This is equipment that could become the normal at ski resorts across the state. 

"That’s our hope," Glazier said. "We’d like to see more ski resorts out there doing this investment."