Great America Joins 100 Percent Renewable Energy Program

By Robert Haugh

Silicon Valley Power (SVP) announced on April 21 that California’s Great America, Santa Clara’s 100-acre amusement park, will cover 100 percent of its electricity use with renewable energy through SVP’s Santa Clara Green Power program. Santa Clara Green Power is a renewable energy program that allows Santa Clara residents and businesses to purchase 100 percent solar and wind energy.

Great America’s commitment to 100 percent wind energy – 12,810 megawatt-hours (MWhs) annually – makes it one of the largest renewable energy purchasers in the Santa Clara Green Power program and a member of the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership’s Leadership Club.

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

Great America joins Intel, Applied Materials and Santa Clara University among the 100 percent green energy customers in Santa Clara, in addition to more than 70 small businesses and 4,000 households having committed to purchasing 100 percent renewable energy through the Santa Clara Green Power program.

Santa Clara Green Power is the voluntary renewable energy program offered by Silicon Valley Power, in partnership with 3Degrees, to all of its business and residential customers for energy generated from 100 percent clean wind and solar power.

Customers in Santa Clara can enroll in Santa Clara Green Power at www.siliconvalleypower.com/green or by calling (408) 244-SAVE (7283).

Silicon Valley Power is the not-for-profit electric municipal utility of Santa Clara serving residents and businesses for over 100 years. SVP provides power to more than 50,000 customers, at rates 15 to 45 percent below neighboring communities.

An April 21 press conference was hosted by SVP and California’s Great America at the theme park. Speakers included:

• Debi Davis, City of Santa Clara City Council Member;
• Carl Guardino, CEO, Silicon Valley Leadership Group;
• Raul Rehnborg, Great America Vice President & General Manager; and
• John Roukema, Director, SVP.