Jay Peak unveils $1M electric boiler project

JAY, Vt. (WCAX) - Jay Peak Resort is sharing details on a new, collaborative green technology project designed to reduce carbon emissions.

After years in the works, Jay Peak Resort is installing a new three-megawatt electric boiler.

“It’s a win for us in that it’s going to lower our utility costs, it’s going to reduce our carbon footprint, and it’s also going to allow local electric renewables to get on the grid and into the homes of Vermonters,” said Jay Peak’s Andy Stenger,

During times when heating with electricity is more efficient, the boiler will heat the Hotel Jay & Conference Center, the Pump House indoor waterpark, and numerous restaurants and retail spaces. Stenger says the project almost didn’t come together. “The financial part was the most difficult, you know. We started the project coming out of COVID. There were a lot of uncertainties,” he said. Stenger says the $1 million project is expected to save up to $250,000 a year in propane costs and would not have been possible without six other partners, including the states of Vermont and Massachusetts. “We had a great team working on the project. It didn’t build itself but it pretty much did.”

The electric boiler now switches off propane with the help of software developed by Medley Thermal out of Massachusetts. “It’s simple but it’s something that’s never been done before,” said Jordan Kearns with Antora Energy. “About 60% of the fossil fuels burned on site will be offset by this project.”

That translates into an estimated 2,500-ton annual reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

Stenger and Vermont utility officials call the project a win-win. “Three years ago we started talking about this and actually see it get completed and implemented is a great thing,” he said.

“It’s really exciting because there’s so many benefits to the resort and the local community,” said Andrea Cohen with Vermont Electric Co-op.

Officials say when fully operational, it is going to be the equivalent of taking about 500 cars off the road.

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