GREENWOOD — Mt. Abram Ski Resort is more environmentally friendly and has more trails to offer due to an expansion and additional green initiative project completed this year.

The mountain will feature six new trail areas that include more water pipes, boosting snow-making operations by 35 percent.

A 2013 green initiative project began with a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Energy for America Program grant for $235,000. It was used to develop an 803 solar panel project, which gave the resort 75 percent of its power from the sun.

The mountain recently obtained Nivis Airless snow guns through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program, which offered a 50-percent matching grant.

The new snow-making equipment has a special injection system that makes it possible to work without a compressor unit or a central compressed air system. The injector aspirates ambient air and creates a water-air mixture, which is pulverized directly through the nozzle head. This process uses no electrical energy.

The new snow guns reduce air consumption by 50 percent and reduce the amount of carbon and other greenhouse gases produced by 402,804 pounds. The new technology also increases the quality of the man-made snow.

“I’m incredibly excited to be able to continue to focus on creating the best possible skiing and riding experience,” General Manager Dave Scanlan said. The expansion of trails and improvement in quality will continue through the coming seasons, he said.

Clay Harvey, marketing and sales director for the mountain, said the expansions will include a focus on creating trail experiences for all ability levels.

Mt. Abram’s opening is scheduled tentatively for Friday, Nov. 25.

emeisner@sunmediagroup.net