Californian amusement park to be entirely powered by renewables

The “California’s Great America” amusement park has pledged to generate 100 per cent of its electricity needs from renewable energy sources as part of the Silicon Valley Power's Santa Clara Green Power programme. 

Santa Clara Green Power is a renewable energy programme that enables Santa Clara residents and businesses to purchase 100 per cent solar and wind energy.

The 100-acre amusement park’s commitment to renewables – 12,810 megawatt hours (MWh) each year – makes it one of the largest renewable energy purchasers in the programme and a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Partnership’s Leadership Club.

Furthermore, the move will reduce Great America’s carbon footprint by more than 7 million pounds (3.18 million kilograms) of carbon dioxide each year.

Raul Rehnborg, Vice President and General Manager of California’s Great America, said: “California’s Great America is proud to partner with Silicon Valley Power and is committed to doing its part to better the environment.”

He went on to say: “It is important for us to reduce our carbon footprint and join the growing number of local businesses that embrace the importance of renewable energy.”

Great America joins Intel, Applied Materials and Santa Clara University among the 100 per cent green energy customers in Santa Clara, in addition to over 70 small businesses and 4,000 households.

Larry Owens, SVP Senior Division Manager of Customer Services at Silicon Valley Power, said: “We are thrilled about Great America’s participation in Santa Clara Green Power.”

“Their renewable energy commitment will place them among the top echelon of Silicon Valley’s environmental leaders and make it the first Northern California amusement park of its kind to choose 100 per cent renewable energy,” he added.

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