Hancock, MA - Jiminy Peak’s 1.5 MW GE wind turbine, named Zephyr, began generating power for the western Massachusetts ski and snowboard resort at 1:45 p.m. Friday afternoon. The three, 123-foot blades are now turning and producing energy that is powering the resort, a first for the North American ski industry. In total, the turbine will provide approximately one-third of the ski resort’s total energy needs. Any excess power not used by Jiminy will go back into the grid.



Zephyr will produce an average of 5,000 kWh per day for a total of 150,000 kWh during the month of August. That is enough energy to power 300 non-air conditioned homes. Wind speed increases across the Berkshire Mountains along the Massachusetts/New York state border during the fall and winter months and by November the output will increase to between 15,000 kWh and 20,000 kWh per day.

The turbine will be officially dedicated in a ceremony at the turbine site atop Jiminy Peak on August 15.