Energy

Meany has electricity service through Puget Sound Energy. We have gas, diesel, and propane tanks that are filled seasonally.

Vendors

Building

Infrastructure

Consumption

History

1928

The railroad supplied coal to Meany Lodge at inception. The coal was used in a “big hotel range in the kitchen” ma56. The kitchen range weighted 1,700 pounds and was hauled up the hill with block and tackle. ma78

Gasoline Coleman lanterns furnished light hw, ma56

1937

A small water power lighting plant was developed by Willard Johnston and Jack Hossack, Hut chairman. ma37

1939

Added gasoline motor-generator set for electric lights. Added wiring for electric lights in hut, replacing gasoline lanterns. ma78

a basement with furnace in place of the former pot-bellied stove in the middle of the living room. The furnace burns both wood and coal. hw, ma91

1946

By the time the first snowflake falls on the Lane, Meany will boast a new light plant…and (attention, Nashie!) a new stove in a freshly painted peasant kitchen. ma46

1948

the bin is filled with coal for baking Nashie’s pies and cinnamon rolls…and enough wood to keep the hut warm for many evenings ma48

1949

Installed new propane range in kitchen. This replaced coal-fired range upon which 25 years of cooks have suffered. ma78

1951

the most important is to transport the coal from rail to flat car and thence to the hut with the faithful aid of The Beast which draws our antiquated trailer. From the forest comes the clear ring of falling axes and busy saws as the fellows build up a winter’s supply of wood for the furnace. ma51

1952

Mr. Morris of the gas company still wonders how, in a few hours of apparently complete disorganization, the new stove and heater were carried in; cylinders brought up and installed; everything put in working order; and his tools all returned to the box. ma52

1953

A new gas stove and water heater ma53

1960

Three different second-hand light plants have been used at Meany for lights since 1939. All of them ran! Meany has never been without lights.

1962

Good use was made of the large numbers turning out for work parties by completely overhauling the light plant. ma62

Puget Sound Power and Light ran a transmission line up the center of North Slobbovia, one of the better ski runs. They did this in the mistaken belief that they were using the Bonneville power right-of-way, whereas actually they were on Mountaineer property. The ensuing year was filled with negotiation and threats to physically remove the power line. It was finally settled in August 1963. Meany would grant an easement and PSPL Co. would place power line underground and cut the stumps on “North Slobbovia” flush with the ground. ma78

1963

Construction of a power line from the Martin Station on the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks to the Hut was started after an agreement had been consummated with the railroad for power. Mountaineers built 600’ of 2400 V single phase power line to R.R. terminus; kept motor-generator set as standby. ma63 ma78 hw

p.137: The Legal Advisory Committee was involved in three important questions. The most time-consuming was the negotiation with the Puget Sound Power and Light Company over the right of way for power lines on the Meany ski hill. p.142: Puget Sound Power and Light, which initially constructed a power line across Meany property during the summer of 1962 without permission from the Mountaineers, has replaced the overhead power line with one that now runs underground.

Commercial power first came to the Lodge in the early ‘60s via the BN railroad at (RR) 2400 volt. The power came from the vicinity of the RR tunnel and ran to the Lodge on a Mountaineer installed and maintained power line. The power cost a flat rate of $35/year and there was no meter. The load limit was 5-kW which we quickly exceeded and then also picked up the Tow Hut and later the Cat House and Zoo loads. rn19

1966

Changed propane tanks from 400# to 200# size, used only to fuel kitchen stove. hw

1974

Moved propane tanks to generator hut. hw

1980

Power connection to BNRR interrupted by falling tree. Connection restored temporarily, but BNRR advises their power line over Stampede Pass is to be abandoned. hw

[continued from 1963] BN power worked out fine until there was a power outage in 1980 and someone called the RR and informed them that our power was out and please fix it. This prompted a response “Who are you and by the way the RR does not serve non-RR loads.” The local RR management did not know they were serving us. rn19

1981

Constructed power transmisison to connect Meany system to Puget Sound Power Line on South side of Meany property. ~500 ft. Transformers to convert supply at 7000v to 240v. Meter at point of tie to supply line. hw

[continued from 1980] This (the 1980 power outage) resulted in converting our electrical load to PSE in the summer of 1981 by building a power line from the BPA transmission line right of way to the Lodge. PSE had a 7200-volt line on the BPA R/W. A primary meter (7200 Volt) was needed because of the distance to the lodge and the distributed loads that we had.rn19

1982

Crews built a power line from Puget Sound Power line on Lower Slobbovia to the lodge. This became necessary because last year a tree took out a power line and during the process of repair Burlington-Northern management discovered Meany Ski Hut was still getting power from the railroad. The power permit was cancelled but Burlington-Northern continued to supply power to the lodge during spring and summer of 1981 and until Meany could connect to Puget Sound Power. Thank you, Burlington-Northern! And thanks to Carsten Lien for negotiating this arrangement. ma82

1985

Rewire all basement electric circuits all of which were overloaded. Installed new electric control panels and switches in pantry. Power supply to Cat House put underground. hw

1986

1989

Because of new code restrictions against buried fuel tanks, dug up 2 buried 500 gallon gasoline tanks used by “Mach”. Cleaned, painted and reinstalled in two locations, one near Cat House, one near Tow Hut. Each station a 10’ x 10’ concrete block building, complete with wiring, plumbing and pump.hw

Two aesthetically attractive concrete block houses were built to encase gas tanks above ground as the risk of rupture of underground tanks was considered too great. hr

2001

Constructed the Propane Hut to enclose a 500-gallon propane tank.75th

2013

Switched Mach from gasoline engine to 50 HP electric motor.

2017

Approximately 2017: replaced 500 gallon propane tank with 1000 gallon.

2019

Replaced all florescent (tubes and A19) bulbs in the Lodge, Tow Hut, Cat House, and Zoo with LED bulbs. Should materially reduce electric consumption.

2020

Matt replaced the (8) halogen lamps in the Zoo with LEDs. The lumen ratings are the same but the new lights come on instantly and are much brighter.

Gas Tank Readings

Diesel tank: 17.5” of 46”, gage reads 3/8 = 347 gallons Gas tank: 23” of 46” = 250 gallons Gas tank: 25.5 of 46” = 270 gallons

2021

Gas Tank Readings

Diesel Hut - diesel - 9 in = 130 gallons Gas Hut - gasoline - 29 in = 340 gallons Tow Hut - gasoline - 8 in = 61 gallons

Gas purchase History:

(from Midstate Coop Tankwagon)

Date Gallons Price
2016-10-12 700 diesel $1,454
2016-10-12 200 gasoline $587
2016-10-12 500 gasoline $1,464
2017-11-15 diesel & gasoline $2,288
2018-10-25 gasoline $2,298
2019-10-23 gasoline $2,368
2020-10-07 gasoline 200, diesel 0  
2021-10-20 gasoline ~200, diesel 250 $1,681

Propane Purchase History:

Date Amount
2015-11-12 $400
2017-10-19 $986
2018-08-09 $726
2018-09-29 $104
2019-05-29 $1,224
2019-09-30 $108
2020-10-06 $2,051
2021-10-06 $857