Six Flags Magic Mountain building solar plant to offset 100% electricity usage
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From the press release:
Six Flags Magic Mountain, the undisputed Thrill Capital of the World, in partnership with Solar Optimum and DSD Renewables (DSD), today announced the official ground breaking of a new 12.37-megawatt solar carport and energy storage system. The Six Flags Magic Mountain project is the largest single-site commercial renewable energy project in California and largest solar project allocated toward a for-profit organization in the United States.
“We’re thrilled to be breaking ground on this monumental project and taking the next step towards a cleaner, greener future,” said Six Flags Magic Mountain Interim Park President Jeff Harris. “We’re continuing to make advancements towards improving and protecting the environment, and are honored to be industry leaders, paving the way for other theme park companies around the world. Our partners and established solar and renewable energy industry experts at Solar Optimum and DSD Renewables, as well as our partners with Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s Office, have been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition, allowing us to break ground at an increased timeline. Getting a glance at what this massive structure will bring to our parks and community is simply remarkable,” he added.
Key components of the Six Flags Magic Mountain solar installation include:
- A 637,000 square foot, 12.37-megawatt solar carport built over the main guest parking lot and team member parking lot;
- The park will be able to offset 100% of its energy usage with solar power;
- Estimated 3,544 guest parking spaces and 771 team member parking spaces;
- Approximately 30 electric vehicle charging spaces in the guest parking lot;
- Added shade coverage to keep cars cool for guests and team members;
- Increased security systems and protection;
- Battery storage system producing approximately 2 megawatts of power with up to 8-megawatt hours of capacity that can be deployed daily;
- Produce 20.8 million kilowatt hours of energy annually, which is equivalent to the electricity consumption of 2,874 homes;
- Offset greenhouse gas emissions each year comparable to 34,194 barrels of oil consumed, 5,110 tons of waste recycled rather than landfilled, and 17,612 acres of U.S. forests;
- Offset carbon dioxide equivalents each year comparable to taking 3,182 cars off the road, 37.8 million miles driven by an average gasoline-powered automobile, and 1.6 million gallons of gasoline consumed; and
- Produce 517.89 million kilowatt hours of energy in a 25-year period, which offsets greenhouse gas energy consumption equivalent to 911 million miles driven by gasoline-powered automobiles and the carbon sequestration equivalent to 434.3 thousand acres of trees planted.
The Six Flags Magic Mountain project is the third solar installation for Six Flags. Properties in Northern California at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and New Jersey at Six Flags Great Adventure have also developed on-site solar capabilities with over 30 megawatts of fully operational solar power systems installed. These three sites will rank as the largest volume of onsite Solar PV systems for any U.S. organization with a combined total of 42.37 megawatts.
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This is super impressive, but it's hard to tell if the battery system can smooth out the usage and storage, or if they'll just net-meter themselves on the grid to 100% offset. That's the dream, not just for environmental reasons, but then the power issues in California just don't matter. They can run rides while adjacent neighborhoods are in the dark.
Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
There's a lot to commend here, though I have to question the wisdom of only fitting 30 charge points with a combined total of 4,300 spaces.
Given the way the world is going there I'd have thought that ten times that figure would have been worth doing, especially given that people tend to spend the whole day in amusement parks.
I develop Superior Solitaire when not riding coasters.
With everyone adopting the Tesla charging standard, the growth of that network, and investments in a number of other networks, I don't think destination charging locations are going to be all that necessary.
Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
It will be interesting to see if Zimmerman pursues further environmental policies leading the new Six Fair. Up to this point I hardly see any conservation policies or programs at current CF parks…the Grand Pavilion could have easily had solar panels in part of the design for example.
I was at an entertainment facility recently that did not allow Coca-cola to have plastic bottles, everything was recyclable aluminum for beverage containers. As well, no plastic straws and lids. Great way to start eliminating plastic waste in parks.
Cool, but now it's going to be super difficult to find my car in the lot. I should have a better method.
Here is another thing SF can offer the new company. Technology. Maybe we'll see KI and CP do something like this.
-Travis
www.youtube.com/TSVisits
Jeff:
With everyone adopting the Tesla charging standard, the growth of that network, and investments in a number of other networks, I don't think destination charging locations are going to be all that necessary.
It might not be strictly necessary, but it'd definitely be a convenience for guests that'll be much easier to implement now than later.
Besides, I'd be surprised if SFMM doesn't have the catchment to draw people from places like Fresno – where the round trip would be up against the maximum range of many current EVs.
I develop Superior Solitaire when not riding coasters.
I've used destination charging once in eight years, at a hotel that happened to have it. It was convenient, but I didn't need it. The problem with charging at a place like an amusement park is that the charger ends up being plugged in and idle most of the time. Besides, for Fresno, a round-trip that'll push gas car range, there's a Supercharger right next to MM, another three miles up I-5, and two massive locations where I-5 and 99 meet, with 76 and 24 units, all 250kW units. Stop on the way down, get a little breakfast, be on your way in 20 minutes.
Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
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