Wednesday | January 12, 2022

Winter Park, Colo. – Yesterday, Mountain Parks Electric and its power supplier, Tri-State G&T, presented Winter Park Resort with a check to help cover installation costs of 14 new electric vehicle chargers. Tri-State provided project funding to support and expand EV usage in the region. MPE facilitated project planning and coordination. The new chargers are located at the indoor Village Parking Garage (6 chargers) and the outdoor B Lot (8 chargers).

“This project will benefit all Mountain Parks consumers, not just out-of-town skiers,” said MPE General Manager Mark Johnston. “Increased sales help us keep electricity affordable. And our power supply is becoming cleaner and cleaner.”  

Right now, the electricity that MPE delivers to consumers is approximately 35 percent renewable. It will be 50 percent renewable in 2 years, and more than 70 percent renewable by 2030. A portion of that renewable energy is generated locally, predominantly at MPE’s 1-Megawatt Fraser solar array, at the Granby Dam (hydroelectric power) and at its 1-Megawatt Walden solar array.

Currently, more than 100 MPE consumers with local primary residences own EVs. Statewide, approximately 50,000 EVs are now registered.

“Since the ski resort chargers were energized a couple of weeks ago, skiers have been plugging in,” Johnston reported. “And we expect their usage to increase over time as major car manufacturers expand electric driving options.”