Published Wednesday, April 25, 2001, in the San Jose Mercury News

Great America to avoid blackouts

Associated Press

Paramount's Great America amusement park in Santa Clara has struck a deal with the municipal utility to keep the power on even during rolling blackouts this summer.

The park will cut electricity usage by 10 percent on ``high-demand days'' -- which could be nearly every day this summer -- by turning off fountains, decorative lighting and air conditioning in some buildings.

Santa Clara's city-owned utility, Silicon Valley Power, will use the power savings to help avert blackouts, said Larry Owens, customer service manager for the utility. Even if the situation gets dire and blackouts are required, the park will be exempt because of the arrangement, Owens said.

About 20 companies with facilities in Santa Clara, including Intel Corp., Sun Microsystems Inc. and Agilent Technologies Inc., have agreed to the same arrangement, as has Santa Clara University.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2001