Salzburg: Saalbach is looking for new sources of energy
Rethinking now accelerated by the crisis
The crisis has accelerated a thought process. More and more citizens and tourism professionals want alternatives. Although hydropower in Salzburg is almost exhausted, there is still potential for small power plants. In Hinterglemm, the Wiesermühle project has started in the area of a former sawmill. The water rights notice has just been issued. Mountain railways and private households should be able to obtain electricity here in the future. Saving is the order of the day: “The legislature must define what it wants,” says Mitterer.
A second power plant in the center of Saalbach is in an early planning phase. The fact that the prices for electricity from hydropower cannot be regulated domestically makes Saalbach shake their heads: “It’s right on our doorstep.”
“There are no alternatives that can be set up overnight,” the mayor is realistic. Now it’s time to save energy. “The tourism industry also has to do its homework,” says the local manager. “It’s not going to work for a floodlight system to be on for hours.”
Saving when making snow
Walter Steiner, operations manager at the Saalbach part of the mountain railways, can only confirm this: “We take a close look at the effectiveness of the snowmaking.” Artificial snow should only be produced in cold temperatures. There should be no more early snowmaking phases, which were often destroyed by the onset of warm weather. The cable cars don’t want to lose their nerve until just before the start of the season when the slopes are still green. The main impact on the account of the mountain railways is the high electricity costs, gas heats two valley stations.
Before the start of winter, the hoteliers in town are also plagued by thoughts of saving. “The price-performance ratio must continue to be right. For example, we can’t just lock the sauna,” says Camilla Schwabl from the family hotel Sonne. However, most hoteliers have already made adjustments such as the latest LED technology.