Oregon Ski Resort Replaces 90% of Propane With Forest Wood Chips for Heat

Mt. Bachelor in Oregon has fired up a wood chip heating plant that will replace about 90% of the propane used to heat its base area buildings and keep walkways clear of snow. The biomass boiler burns material from forest thinning and wildfire prevention work in the Deschutes National Forest. The resort expects to cut roughly 1,000 tons of CO2 per year once fully operational, with full operation targeted for December 2026. The project replaces about 150,000 gallons of propane annually and includes underground insulated pipes that deliver hot water to several lodges and the West Village snowmelt system. It took longer than planned, with construction originally expected to finish in early 2024. The resort says a local contractor will supply at least one tractor-trailer load of wood chips per week. The system is designed to create a productive use for woody debris that would otherwise be pile burned.