Used Cooking Oil Now Powers the Disneyland Railroad and Compressed Natural Gas
Fuels Guest Trams
ANAHEIM, Calif., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing commitment to
the environment, Disneyland Resort announced two innovative environmental
initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The Resort has begun using
compressed natural gas to fuel its guest trams and recycled cooking oil to
power its Disneyland Railroad steam trains and Mark Twain riverboat.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090130/LA64788)
"These initiatives demonstrate Disneyland Resort's ongoing commitment to
balancing environmental stewardship throughout our operations," said Michael
O'Grattan, senior vice president of resort operations. "These are just a few
steps in our ongoing journey to reduce Disneyland Resort's environmental
footprint."
Used Cooking Oil Fuels Disneyland Railroad
Beginning this week, the Disneyland Railroad is being fueled by a special
biodiesel made from recycled cooking oil used throughout the Resort. "We have
been recycling our used kitchen grease for years, but this innovation takes
recycling to another level," said Frank Dela Vara, Disneyland Resort's
director of environmental affairs and conservation. "Now the oil used to cook
French Fries and other foods is processed to power our Disneyland Railroad and
our Mark Twain Riverboat. This move allows the Resort to save approximately
200,000 gallons of petroleum diesel per year."
The Disneyland Railroad's five trains have been using a soy-based biodiesel
since April 2007. The B99.9 used cooking oil-based biodiesel will continue to
reduce emissions by up to 80 percent. Disneyland Resort's Mark Twain Riverboat
also will begin using the new biodiesel within the next few weeks.
Trams Fueled by Clean-Burning Compressed Natural Gas
As of December 2008, all 16 Disneyland Resort trams, which transport guests
between the two theme parks and parking facilities, are fueled by
clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG). The switch to CNG from a hybrid
engine was made possible through a $1.17 million grant from the Carl Moyer
Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program, which paid for nearly half
the conversion costs. Using CNG will eliminate the need for approximately
50,000 gallons of diesel per year. For the 10 years prior to the conversion,
diesel/hybrid engines powered Disneyland trams.
The Carl Moyer grant was created by the California state legislature in 1998
to encourage the use of alternative fuel vehicles. Each year, the California
Air Resources Board disburses money to the South Coast Air Quality Management
District, which administers Carl Moyer funds in Southern California to help
grant recipients purchase new or convert existing engines or vehicles.
"We at Disneyland Resort are proud of our commitment to exploring and
implementing new technologies for a cleaner environment and furthering the
environmental legacy left by Walt Disney," O'Grattan added.
About the Disneyland Resort
Located on approximately 500 acres in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort
features two spectacular theme parks - Disneyland (the original Disney theme
park) and Disney's California Adventure park - plus the Downtown Disney
District composed of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences.
The Resort's three hotels are the luxurious 745-room Disney's Grand
Californian Hotel & Spa, the magical 988-room Disneyland Hotel and the
"day-at-the-beach" fun of the 489-room Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. With
20,000 employees, the Disneyland Resort is Orange County's largest employer
and a $3.7 billion annual contributor to the local economy. The Resort has
welcomed more than 550 million Guests since opening on July 17, 1955. For
detailed information about the Disneyland Resort, please visit
www.disneyland.com.
SOURCE Disneyland Resort
Suzi Brown of Disneyland Resort, +1-714-781-4614
