Six Flags Great Adventure in the U.S. state of New Jersey has announced a major solar project to help power the theme park – and it’s also drawing attention to the state’s renewable energy renaissance.
Claiming it a world-first for a theme park, 23.5-megawatts of solar capacity will be installed on 40 acres at the site and over parking lots.
” This project represents a giant step toward becoming a net-zero carbon facility,” said Six Flags Great Adventure Park President John Winkler. “Clean energy is right for the environment and our future, and we look forward to decades of environmental stewardship with our partner, KDC Solar.”
KDC Solar, which focuses on building and operating behind-the-meter solar facilities of at least 2 megawatts capacity, said the rollout was in line with new State Governor Phil Murphy’s aspirations for renewable energy in New Jersey.
To be the largest net metered solar project in the state, construction is due to start in March and the facility is expected to be to be fully operational by the end of 2019.
A New Renewable Energy Revolution In New Jersey
Renewable energy blossomed for a while in New Jersey until previous Governor Chris Christie appeared to go all out to rein it in. While initially seeming a friend to renewables, Mr. Christie abandoned an important greenhouse gas reduction initiative and stymied repeated attempts to have the state rejoin it.
As a parting shot, the former Governor reportedly snuck out of office, “pocket vetoing” a bill to raise New Jersey’s renewable portfolio standard and increase solar energy’s share; which would have assisted the solar power sector in its recovery.
One of Phil Murphy’s platforms in the race for Governor was clean energy.
“To get New Jersey right, we must both grow our economy and make it fair,” he said. ” Investing in clean energy does both. We can rebuild our middle class, combat climate change, and protect our environment by restoring New Jersey’s place as a leader in the green economy.”
The new Governor’s pre-election commitments included:
- Rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
- Setting a target of 3,500MW of offshore wind generation by 2030.
- Prioritizing expansion of solar power.
- Setting a goal of 600 MW of energy storage by 2021 and 2000 MW by 2030.
- Boosting energy efficiency programs.
- Banning fracking and storage of fracking waste in the state.
Governor Murphy has a vision of putting New Jersey on a road to 100 percent clean energy by 2050.
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