Disney is making ongoing investments in renewable energy across their operations as part of their long-term goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
The mouse company has already powered up multiple renewable energy installations across their global operations.
For example, Disneyland Paris is leveraging geothermal energy to help power its onsite theme parks and resorts.
A Disney spokesperson commented: “We continue to seek innovative ways to bring clean electricity to our local energy grids and increase our own renewable energy portfolio.
“Throughout our parks and resorts, we have also made continued investments in renewable and lower carbon energy, taking into account the unique needs and infrastructure at each location.
“This year, we brought online a new 270-acre, 50+-megawatt solar facility near Walt Disney World Resort, built in collaboration with the Reedy Creek Improvement District and Origis Energy USA.
“This facility generates enough power from the sun to operate two of our four theme parks in Orlando.
“This installation joins our popular ‘Hidden Mickey’ solar array at Walt Disney World – a five-megawatt installation in the shape of our very own Mickey Mouse.”
The new solar facility at Walt Disney World Resort is anticipated to generate enough power from the sun to operate two of their four theme parks in Orlando annually.
According to Disney, on average, the new solar facility amounts to reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 52,000 metric tons and removing 9,300 cars from the roads each year.
Solar power is beginning to play a leading role in Disney’s global operations.
At Castaway Cay in the Bahamas, Disney Cruise Line uses solar power to heat water for their crew on the island.
Over in the US, Disney’s Southern California sites have expanded solar arrays onto a number of rooftop facilities, including a main soundstage and a prominent walkway at their Burbank Studio Lot.
At the nearby Grand Central Creative Campus in Glendale, the primary parking structure includes a 460-kilowatt solar rooftop system.
Also at Disney California Adventure, their Radiator Springs Racers attraction is powered by 1,400 solar panels.
In other ventures, the steam trains and the Mark Twain Riverboat at Disneyland Resort in California run on biodiesel made from the company’s own recycled cooking oil.
The company has also eliminated single-use plastic straws and stirrers at all owned and operated locations across the globe, what they report a reduction of more than 175 million straws and 13 million stirrers annually.
All Disney hotels and cruise ships are also transitioning to refillable in-room amenities, reducing plastics in guest rooms by reportedly 80%.
