Theme Parks Use Solar Power to Reduce Carbon Footprint
Solar power is always a wise investment, but it can pay off big time if it is installed at huge energy sucker sites like amusement parks. Fortunately, the organizations that run amusement parks realize the benefits of going solar and many of them have made major changes to reduce their carbon footprint and save natural resources. Read on to find out about the latest updates.
Six Flags in Jackson, N.J. Goes Solar
There have been many amusement parks that have made efforts to go solar but the Six Flags in Jackson, N.J. may be leading the way. The facility recently announced the completion of a 23.5-megawatt solar project built and operated by their partner, KDC solar. The Park is now almost completely powered by solar energy.
Here are some key features of the project:
· 40 acres of ground-mounted solar power-producing 12.5 MW of energy
· Solar carports installed across three large parking lots producing 11 MW of energy
· A considerable reduction of the park’s reliance on fossil fuels
· A net metering system that will allow the park to generate its own clean energy and distribute the power onto the grid to serve residences and businesses in the area
· The preservation of over 200 acres of wetlands, forests and wetlands transition areas
· The utilization of over 99,000 hours of union labor provided by KDC Solar’s construction teams
Additional Jackson Park efforts include the recycling of over 60% of its annual waste. It also converts recycled furniture products such as tables and park benches for future use. It has eliminated paper towels in favor of less wasteful hand dryers.
The transformation Six Flags has made should come as no surprise. The Six Flags Great Adventure corporation has a history in conservation efforts and has overseen the care of 70 different animal species including those that are endangered.
Disney’s Earth Day Promise
Six Flags isn’t the only well-known amusement park to turn to renewable energy. Disney is also taking a step forward with an Earth Day announcement that included a list of sustainability commitments with a focus on solar.
The most notable of their commitments is a plan to develop two solar facilities that produce 75 MW of energy. This will be in addition to earlier efforts which include a 22-acre Micky Mouse-shaped solar farm built near Epcot and a 270-acre solar project developed in 2019 producing 57 MW in solar power.
Disney plans to have the recently announced solar facilities online within 2 years. Once all four facilities are up and running, solar power will account for 40% of the parks’ energy consumption.
While Orlando has been a target for solar efforts, it is not the only location that has gone renewable. Here are some changes made at other Disney facilities.
Castaway Cay: Disney is currently working on their private island on the Bahamas with plans to build over 4,000 solar panels. Once completed, the panels will power over 70% of the island.
Disneyland Resort: 1400 solar panels have been installed at California’s Disneyland Resort. They sit upon the radiator springs attraction.
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort: Hong Kong Disneyland Resort boasts 5000 panels making it the largest solar site in the city.
Tokyo Disney Resort: The resort has been equipped with solar panels at eight backstage locations, enough to power the location’s Dreamlights Parade.
Other Amusement Parks Making Solar Efforts
In addition to Disney and Six Flags, there are parks around the world making efforts to go solar. These include:
DefiPlanet in France: This Park is dedicated to educating visitors on climate change. They use fun, interactive displays while warning guests on environmental dangers to the planet.
Greenwood Forest Park in the United Kingdom: In 2015, Greenwood Forest Park installed a 576 150-kWh solar system that powers 80% of the facility. This includes its Solar Splash water slide which takes credit as being the U.K.’s first solar-powered amusement park ride.
PortAventura in Spain: In 2020, Portaventura unveiled an onsite solar project that provides one-third of the resort’s energy needs. Their 22,000-panel system is the largest self-consumption solar PV facility in all of Europe. It is part of what has earned the park its title as the first carbon-neutral resort in the world.
Conclusion
Amusement parks account for a huge amount of energy consumption. The efforts the parks mentioned in this article have made will go far in saving the environment. They will also teach children valuable lessons about conservation.
When it comes to reversing the damage done over hundreds of years, we still have a long way to go. But the steps these parks are taking will bring us closer to our goals. It is hopeful that other energy-sucking companies follow suit to reduce waste and emissions worldwide.
