Theme park and attraction news, rumors and videos.
West coast theme park fans are now riding on sunshine at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, because since late last year the Northern California attraction has been getting the majority of its energy from a new solar power-generating parking lot.
The park known for yellow plastic people became a little more green on December 14, as Tampa Electric unveiled a 1.8-megawatt solar canopy at Legoland Florida Resort that is producing electricity — and shade — for visitors at the Winter Haven attraction.
The seven rows of Tampa Electric solar panels over the resort’s preferred parking lot, adjacent to the Legoland Florida theme park entrance, can produce enough electricity to power more than 200 homes and enough shade for more than 600 vehicles. It’s Tampa Electric’s second large-scale, community-sited photovoltaic (PV) array to be installed in its territory, and its first large-scale array in Polk County.
“We are proud to be a partner with Legoland Florida Resort on this project,” said Gordon Gillette, president and CEO of Tampa Electric. “This is an exciting example of how community partners can work together to demonstrate the benefits of solar energy and the role it plays in our energy future.”
Tampa Electric owns the PV array, and the electricity it produces goes to the grid, benefiting the company’s 730,000 customers. The solar array can generate enough electricity from the sun to power the resort’s 152-room Legoland Hotel.
“We’re delighted to partner with Tampa Electric on this smart, innovative project,” said Adrian Jones, general manager of Legoland Florida Resort. “It not only benefits guests with shade for their vehicles, but it’s also a terrific demonstration of what can be achieved when businesses combine their skills and resources.”
Tampa Electric’s new system at Legoland Florida Resort joins a smaller PV installation already in its theme park. In 2014, the company installed solar panels atop Imagination Zone, a large, indoor attraction filled with hands-on science and engineering-based activities for kids. Tampa Electric has installed nine community-sited solar PV arrays that offer the public an opportunity to see solar up close and to learn about the technology.
Watch this video for a look at Legoland Florida’s newest earth-friendly addition:
In honor of Earth Day, Legoland Florida Resort and Tampa Electric have teamed up on an initiative that will make the yellow LEGO people’s home a little more green. The theme park and power utility are partnering on a 2-megawatt solar energy project that will produce electricity — and shade — for visitors at the popular vacation destination, as announced on April 22, 2016, as part of an Earth Day commemoration at the Legoland Florida resort. [Read more…]
When you’re driving down World Drive near Epcot Center Drive, you probably won’t even notice the solar panels next to you. You probably won’t even notice them from the monorail. You’ll need to get high up in the air to see the newest huge Hidden Mickey. [Read more…]
Legoland Florida and Tampa Electric have unveiled a new six-foot Lego Globe at Imagination Zone as part of initiatives to further education on renewable energy inside the park. [Read more…]
It takes a lot of power to run a theme park, so you wouldn’t expect it to all be run on renewable energy, but Legoland Florida pulled it off for one day, Earth Day. [Read more…]