Super Bowl XLVI Powered by the Wind
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, February 6, 2012 (ENS) – The New York Giants won a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in Sunday’s Super Bowl game and renewable energy was the overall winner as electricity at all six major Super Bowl facilities was generated at wind farms located in North Dakota.
Everything from the computers in the Motorola Super Bowl XLVI Media Center to the lights on the field was powered by green energy.
Green Mountain Energy Company was selected to supply 15,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy certificates, or RECs, to offset greenhouse gas emissions associated with the electricity used at the major NFL venues.
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Super Bowl XLVI ran on wind power. (Photo courtesy New York Giants) |
These include Lucas Oil Stadium, site of Super Bowl XLVI, the Indiana Convention Center, site of the National Football League Experience Football Theme Park, and all four of the major NFL hotels including the NFL Headquarters, the SuperBowl Media Center, and the AFC and NFC team hotels.
“Green Mountain Energy Company has helped us reduce the overall environmental impact of SuperBowl activities,” says NFL Environmental Program Director Jack Groh. “Together, we have been able to expand the way we address greenhouse gas emissions and leave a permanent benefit to the host community.”
Renewable energy certificates provide an additional revenue stream that can help build future renewable energy facilities.
In total, the RECs will avoid more than 14,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions associated with Super Bowl electricity consumption over the course of the month-long period leading up to and immediately following Super Bowl XLVI.
As part of Green Mountain Energy’s involvement in this year’s Super Bowl, the company is donating a residential solar array to be incorporated into the Near East Side Legacy Project, an Indianapolis Host Committee effort to revitalize one of the city’s central neighborhoods.
Green Mountain has joined the NFL to support urban forestry projects that will take place this spring. Trees will be planted in Indianapolis neighborhoodsin partnership with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful. The final tree planting event will include the annual passing of a “golden shovel” to next year’s New Orleans Super Bowl XLVII Host Committee – a tradition that began in 2008.
In addition, Green Mountain will provide carbon offsets to balance out the greenhouse gas emissions created by air and ground travel by both Super Bowl teams.
“In addition to Green Mountain’s support for Super Bowl environmental projects, the company is providing renewable energy certificates to green the electricity used at Aloha Stadium, site of the 2012 NFL Pro Bowl,” said Groh. “Green Mountain, along with the NFL and nearly a dozen local partners, is also helping to fund a local urban forestry project at the Waianae Boys and Girls Club in Hawaii.”
The NFL Environmental Program, now in its 18th year, develops projects each year to address solid waste, food waste, material reuse, the needs for books and sports equipment for children in need and the overall climate change impact of Super Bowl events.
Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2012. All rights reserved.