The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is attempting to stop plans by Six Flags Great Adventure to cut down 19,000 trees to make way for a solar power facility by buying up the land on the site of the proposed energy generator.

In a letter addressed to Six Flags chair, president and CEO of the DEP, Jim Reid-Anderson – who opposes the proposal – suggested buying the 90-acre (36-hectare) plot of land from the theme park operator.

"We have consistently held that any solar project should be sited on existing buildings, parking lots, remediated brownfields, properly closed landfills or other previously developed land in order to limit environmental impacts," said assistant DEP commissioner Richard Boornazian in the letter. "We oppose large solar projects that damage or destroy previously undisturbed natural resources, such as the project you propose.”

Several environmental groups have filed a joint lawsuit against Six Flags, which claims the solar farm violates New Jersey's municipal land use laws – also alleging the plan will cause harm to the Barnegat Bay Watershed.

Six Flags has said that the solar farm option would reduce the park’s carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 24 times the amount that the forest would be able to do naturally. The theme park operator has also pledged to replant 26,000 young trees as replacement.