JACKSON -- The roller coasters, eateries and other attractions at Six Flags Great Adventure will soon be powered by the sun, app.com reported Thursday.

The operators of the amusement park won approval earlier this month for the 21.9 megawatt solar plant, which will be built by KDC Solar of Bedminster. The solar plant will provide about 98 percent of the park's energy.

About 18,000 trees will be cleared as part of the project but the park's management says it will plant about 25,000 in coming years to replace them.

The plant will be located on a 134-acre site near the safari park and is expected to be up and running sometime in 2016.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2.