When you picture an ice festival, you imagine the crisp winter air, the energetic buzz of chainsaws carving masterpieces, and the community coming together to celebrate the season. You don’t picture, or want to hear, the deafening rumble of diesel or gas generators.
That’s why Star Power Atlantic was proud to be the Official Clean Power Partner of the 2026 East Coast Credit Union Ice Festival.
For three days, from January 30th to February 1st, downtown Dartmouth transformed Portland Street into a winter wonderland. Celebrating its latest year of bringing warmth to the coldest season, the festival is a cornerstone event for the region, drawing families, artists, and locals to the streets. The main attraction, of course, is the ice sculpting. World-class carvers from across the Maritimes and as far as Nunavut gathered to turn massive blocks of ice into dazzling, ephemeral art. It’s a celebration that boosts local business and reminds us why we love this corner of the world—even when it freezes.
The Challenge: Powering Art Without the Noise
Events like this require serious power. Between the lighting, the music, and the equipment needed to carve tonnes of ice, the energy demand is high. Traditionally, this would mean lining the streets with gas and diesel generators.
But generators come with baggage: toxic fumes and, most noticeably, noise. When you’re trying to appreciate the subtle artistry of an ice sculpture or enjoy an acoustic youth workshop, the constant drone of an engine is a mood killer. Not to mention the impact on the air quality for the families walking by.
This year, the East Coast Credit Union Ice Festival chose a different path.
The Solution: A Silent Fleet
Working closely with Tim Rissesco, CEO of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission, we deployed our clean power rental solutions to ensure the only things filling the air were music and laughter.
Empowering the artists with Instagrid GO
To create their masterpieces, ice sculptors rely on electric chainsaws and other power tools. These tools need reliable, high-peak power. We delivered eight Instagrid GO portable power stations directly to each artist.
What they powered: The electric chainsaws and other power tools used to carve the ice sculptures.
The difference: Usually, carvers are tethered to small- or medium-sized generators or forced to use gas-powered tools. The Instagrid GO portable power stations gave them the freedom to move around their sculptures without tripping over cords or breathing in exhaust from a nearby generator. Small, lightweight, and incredibly powerful, these units handled the chainsaws’ high startup surge without issue.
Heavy Lifting with the Voltstack 30k
The festival’s centerpiece was a massive 30-foot-by-10-foot LED screen, serving as a dynamic backdrop for the event.
What it powered: This screen, mounted on a truck, typically runs off a massive onboard diesel generator.
The difference: We replaced that fossil-fuel burner with a single Voltstack 30k battery energy storage system. For 6 to 7 hours straight, our unit powered the entire LED display silently.
The Impact: By swapping out the diesel generator, we eliminated hours of noise and carbon emissions from the heart of the festival. Attendees could stand right next to the screen and hear nothing but the event itself.
Silence Speaks Volumes at the Ice Festival
The benefits of switching to Star Power Atlantic’s fleet were immediate and tangible.
For the duration of the event, thousands of attendees walked Portland Street without inhaling the noxious pollutants associated with gas and diesel generators. There was no “generator hum” competing with the live music in the igloo or the on-street DJs. The air was as crisp and clean as the ice itself.
Pascal, founder at Star Power Atlantic, sees this partnership as a natural fit for the region, saying, “We were honoured to be brought back into the fold for this year’s festival. Seeing our gear run everything from delicate carving tools to massive screens proves that you don’t need to compromise on performance to be sustainable. We look forward to supporting Dartmouth with clean, quiet power for years to come.”
Tim Rissesco, CEO of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission, noticed the difference immediately, saying, “The atmosphere this year was incredible, and a huge part of that was the silence—or rather, the absence of industrial noise. Usually, you accept that the roar of generators will compete with the festivities. With Star Power Atlantic, that mechanical drone was gone, replaced by the sounds that actually matter: families laughing, music playing, and neighbors talking. We delivered clean air and quiet power, allowing the art and the community to take center stage. It’s a game-changer for downtown events.”
The Future is Quiet
The 2026 East Coast Credit Union Ice Festival proved that whether you’re running a chainsaw or a jumbotron, clean power is ready for prime time. We’re proud to help our partners in Atlantic Canada lead the way in sustainable, community-focused events.
Need silent, reliable power for your next event? Contact Star Power Atlantic today, and let’s talk about how we can help you cut the cord on diesel and gas.
