Santa Monica uses solar power for its new LED Ferris Wheel
By Susan Wilson
Santa Monica took apart it’s aging Ferris Wheel (auctioned off on eBay) and replaced it with an incredible psychedelic solar powered version. When this thing gets going the LED lights can be seen for miles looking like a circular rainbow.
Chance Morgan Rides manufactured the new $1.5 million Ferris Wheel. The new 90 foot ride is expected to have 800 riders per hour and cost nothing to run. Even though this new Ferris Wheel has 160,000 low power consuming LED lights, the fact that it will cost nothing to run is a amazing.
The original solar installation, installed in 1996 for the old Ferris Wheel, will be used to run the new one. The 14 year old solar installation is still going strong and providing enough power to run the ride and light it without any upgrades or new panels.
Santa Monica decided to use this transition from the old to the new as an opportunity to improve life in the local community by making several donations. The eBay auction of the old Ferris Wheel netted $130,000, half of which was donated to Special Olympics Southern California. Furthermore, $1.00 for every person who rode the old ride on the last day was donated to LA’s Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Santa Monica has set a high standard for other communities to aspire to in the use of solar power for running amusement park rides. Six Flags over everything could learn from this model and save a fortune in energy costs and environmental impact.
Should I ever make it to Santa Monica, this is one place I plan on visiting. I want to ride that psychedelic Ferris Wheel, again and again…….
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