Six Flags Great Adventure converts to solar power

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Six Flags Great Adventure and its partner KDC Solar announced Wednesday the completion of a 23.5-megawatt solar project built and operated by Bedminster-based KDC Solar, making the park almost fully powered by solar energy.

The project ranks as New Jersey’s largest net metered solar project, the companies said, and distinguishes Six Flags Great Adventure as one of the world’s first solar-powered theme parks.

“This is a thrilling day for our company. This project represents a giant step toward becoming a net-zero carbon facility,” Six Flags Great Adventure Park President John Winkler said. “Clean energy is right for the environment and our future, and we look forward to decades of environmental stewardship with our partner, KDC Solar.”

Key features of the solar project include: 11 MW of solar carports over three parking lots; 12.5 MW on 40 acres of ground-mounted solar panels; a net metering system that allows the park to generate its own clean energy, and export power into the grid to serve nearby homes and businesses; a reduction of the park’s reliance on fossil fuels; preservation of more than 200 acres of forest, wetlands and wetlands transition areas; and the utilization of more than 99,000 hours of union labor by KDC Solar in constructing this project.

According to Six Flags, the Jackson theme park recycles more than 60 percent of its annual waste, including manure, paper, plastic, wood and mixed garbage.