Cannon Mountain, DNCR and Ameresco Celebrate Completion of Major Energy Efficiency Initiative

Installed efficiency measures expected to help reduce energy
consumption at ski area by 30 percent, while significantly increasing
snowmaking capabilities for less cost

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. & FRANCONIA, N.H.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#energyefficiency–Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire Department of Natural & Cultural
Resources (DNCR) and Ameresco, today announced the completion of the
approximately $5.1 million energy efficiency initiative at Cannon
Mountain. The State of New Hampshire, which owns Cannon Mountain,
contracted with Ameresco,
Inc. (NYSE: AMRC), a leading energy
efficiency and renewable
energy company, for the project in July 2016. The work to install
and enact energy efficiency and conservation measures for both Cannon’s
snowmaking and energy-supply systems has been underway for the past year.

“I would like to congratulate the team at Ameresco on receiving the 2017
State of New Hampshire Governor’s Award for Energy Efficiency for your
work at Cannon Mountain,” stated Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH).
"Recognizing that a clean environment and economic development go
hand-in-hand, we must work together to combat climate change and protect
the beautiful natural resources that make New Hampshire unique.
Businesses like Ameresco are pioneers in driving our economy forward,
developing cutting-edge projects and services that improve lives and the
world around us.”

“The completion of this project is a significant achievement in support
of the state’s commitment to reduce its energy consumption 50 percent by
2030,” said Commissioner Jeffrey Rose of the Department of Natural &
Cultural Resources, which oversees operation of Cannon Mountain. “No
matter how you look at it, this project is a win-win. It helps us
achieve our overall efficiency and sustainability goals while reducing
energy consumption and energy costs, and provides critical upgrades to
important ski area infrastructure.”

“Ameresco commends the State of New Hampshire and Cannon Mountain for
their leadership and commitment to efficiently utilizing energy and
water resources,” said David J. Anderson, Executive Vice President,
Ameresco. “This year-long initiative helped institute an innovative
approach to more efficient snow making and ski condition management at
Cannon Mountain, and is a valuable model that other ski resorts could
emulate.”

Ameresco worked with experienced local subcontractors G.W. Tatro
Construction and Royal Electric to complete the project. Each has years
of experience working with ski areas.

"G.W. Tatro has been working with Cannon for over 30 years. This job was
a great challenge and we were thrilled to once again find ourselves on
the mountain. We had the good fortune to work with Ameresco, and we’re
proud to have been a part of a project that is so important to
increasing the sustainability of these slopes," said Gregory Tatro,
Owner of G.W. Tatro Construction.

“Royal Electric is always excited to be part of projects local to our
area. Working at Cannon Mountain with Ameresco and the subcontractors on
this project has been a great experience. Many of our employees ski at
Cannon and enjoy all that Franconia Notch has to offer. This has made
this project much more personal. The upgrades will provide much greater
reliability of the electrical system, reduce energy consumption, and
provide Cannon with increased capacity for the services that they
provide to our community for years to come,” said Elie Roy, Project
Manager for Royal Electric.

The largest of the energy conservation measures was to replace 388
existing energy intensive land based air/water snow guns with tower
mounted low-energy snow guns, and some portables. The new tower guns
greatly reduced compressed air energy as well as the labor required to
move the old land guns around the mountain. Twelve-hundred feet of
water/air lines were also added, as well as a new pump house located at
3,170 feet, to expand Cannon Mountains snow making ability at higher
elevations.

The project’s conservation measures also included replacement of
Cannon’s main-trunk power line with a new and more efficient primary
power supply line and high- and low-voltage transformer to help increase
power reliability and energy efficiency. In addition, upgrades were
performed to enhance lighting and weatherization. These provide
significant energy savings and improve operational efficiency on the
mountain.

The project was funded through the state’s energy performance contract,
and is budget-neutral, with savings from the reduction in energy to be
used to pay-off the bond within 16 years. Annual energy cost savings are
expected to be approximately $386,000.

About Cannon Mountain

Cannon Mountain Ski Area is a state-owned ski resort located on Cannon
Mountain in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, United States. Cannon
is located within Franconia Notch State Park and offers 10 lifts
servicing 265 acres of skiing. Cannon Mountain in Franconia, New
Hampshire is the site of the first Aerial Tramway in North America and
is one of most popular attractions in Franconia Notch. For more
information visit www.cannonmt.com/.

About Ameresco

Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE: AMRC) is a leading independent
provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure
upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions for
businesses and organizations throughout North America and Europe.
Ameresco’s sustainability services include upgrades to a facility’s
energy infrastructure and the development, construction and operation of
renewable energy plants. Ameresco has successfully completed energy
saving, environmentally responsible projects with Federal, state and
local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing
authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate
headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has more than 1,000 employees
providing local expertise in the United States, Canada, and the United
Kingdom. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.

Contacts

Cannon Mountain
Greg Keeler, 603-823-8800
or
Ameresco
CarolAnn
Hibbard, 508-661-2264
[email protected]