Amusement parks jump to the front of the line with green energy

Solar-charged rollercoasters, wind-powered Ferris Wheels and other renewable-powered attractions could become business as usual for the amusement parks of the future.

Already, a handful of major theme park companies are embracing green energy, from California and New York to the United Kingdom.

Most recently, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation committed to powering two of its California parks almost entirely with energy from the sun. Beginning later this year, Six Flags will generate at least 7 megawatts (MW) of electricity with solar panels strategically located over the parking lot of its Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. A second system at Magic Mountain, near Los Angeles, will have capacity for nearly 15 MW, making it the largest solar carport in North America.

And over in New Jersey, Six Flags is transforming one of its existing sites into the world’s biggest theme park to be completely powered by solar energy, preventing as much as 1.5 million tons of carbon particles from going into the atmosphere each year.

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