LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — To pay tribute to Earth Day, Walt Disney World Resort flipped the switch on its brand-new 270-acre, 50-megawatt solar farm.
The facility, which is located next to State Road 429 near Disney World, was built in collaboration with the Reedy Creek Improvement District and the solar developer Origis Energy. The solar farm is expected to produce enough renewable clean energy to run two of Disney’s four theme parks every year.
This is the second solar farm for Walt Disney World Resort. In 2016, it placed a 5-megawatt solar facility on 22-acres of land and designed it in the shape of Mickey Mouse. This project was part of a collaboration with Reedy Creek Improvement District and Duke Energy.
Both solar farms are part of Disney’s long-term sustainable goals of reaching zero waste, zero greenhouse gas emissions, conserving water resources and reducing the use of plastics.
The new solar farm will help Disney World cut its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50,000 tons every year.
“The solar panels and the renewable energy helps the whole Central Florida area,” said Angie Renner, environmental integration director for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. “What it means is if you have clean, renewable energy, you’re not having to pull from the grid in Florida, and it cleans all of it up together, and it produces less emissions which is good for all of us.”
Also, about two-thirds of the 270-acre land is designated to a pollination garden.
“We are creating habitats for pollinators, like bees and butterflies,” Renner explained. “This is really good for our ecosystem in Central Florida. It helps the whole area.”
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