Sea to Sky Gondola drops diesel generators, switches to hydro power | Daily Hive

Sea to Sky Gondola adopts hydroelectricity, ditching reliance on diesel generators after over a decade

Sea to Sky Gondola's upper terminal, also known as the Summit, featuring the Summit Lodge. (Sea to Sky Gondola)

Shortly after celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Sea to Sky Gondola in early 2025 introduced significant behind-the-scenes changes, effectively reducing its environmental impact.

When the attraction first opened, the gondola ride system and the Summit area, including the Summit Lodge building, were powered by two 600V diesel generators.

As of this past January, the attraction is now connected to the BC Hydro grid and using cleaner hydroelectricity.

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From the earliest planning stages more than a decade ago, the goal was always to connect the attraction to a reliable clean energy source.

Actual technical planning for a BC Hydro connection began about seven years ago, and it was a major project of its own.

Construction first began in April 2024 on a 5.5-km-long, 25kV overhead power line between BC Hydro’s existing utilities in Squamish’s Valleycliffe neighbourhood and the mountaintop, and this work concluded in late 2024.

It involved erecting 82 poles to support the power line, with the largest pole reaching a height of 95 ft, and completing minor access roads/trails. In an effort to minimize the number of trees that had to be cut down, the power line route used existing right of ways and already cleared areas wherever possible.

2024 construction of the BC Hydro power line for the Sea to Sky Gondola. (Sea to Sky Gondola)

This project required collaboration with not only BC Hydro, but also the Squamish Nation, District of Squamish, and various provincial agencies, including the BC Ministry of Forests.

With its new BC Hydro connection, the Sea to Sky Gondola will reduce its carbon emissions by over 400 tonnes per year — the equivalent of what 5,000 to 7,000 trees would sequester annually. This reduction is also comparable to removing 123 passenger vehicles from the road, powering 269 homes, or diverting 17,461 bags of garbage from landfills to recycling.

As for the existing two diesel generators, they will be kept as backup sources for emergency use only.

The new hydroelectricity connection also provides the Summit area with a power capacity boost, as the attraction previously maximized the use of the generators to power all of the food and beverage operations, retail, weddings, and other special events.

In anticipation of the new electricity link, a high-efficiency electric heat pump was recently installed at the Summit Lodge. Efforts are also underway to replace propane-powered equipment with electric alternatives, along with plans to transition the lodge’s kitchen and heating systems from gas to electricity.

2024 construction of the BC Hydro power line for the Sea to Sky Gondola. (Sea to Sky Gondola)

A few years ago, concerns over the attraction’s power source took a backseat as the Sea to Sky Gondola faced an existential crisis following two acts of severe vandalism.

In August 2019, the gondola cable was cut, sending all cabins crashing to the ground. After extensive repairs and the purchase of brand-new cabins, the same act of sabotage was repeated in September 2020. The gondola is now protected by state-of-the-art security systems, but those responsible have yet to be caught, despite the attraction’s owners offering a $500,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the vandals.

Just months before the first attack, in February 2019, the Sea to Sky Gondola had announced plans for a 2.5-km-long spiral elevated walkway near The Summit, similar to the Malahat Skywalk, which opened in 2021 on Vancouver Island. However, the Sea to Sky Gondola’s major expansion remains on hold. The gondola first opened in May 2014.

Sea to Sky Gondola

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