by Shane Henson — December 20, 2013—Super Bowl XLVIII, set for February 2, 2014, at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, is sure to electrify sports fans across the United States, but without the use of loads of electricity like past events, thanks to the green energy that will be provided by the Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), a national utility for solar owned by the Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG).
According to PSE&G, it is partnering with the National Football League (NFL) Environmental Program to decrease the environmental footprint of the Super Bowl, considered the largest U.S. sporting event, through the use of green power.
“PSEG is committed to being environmentally responsible. Working with the NFL, we can help set the example that even an event that uses as much energy as the Super Bowl can significantly reduce its impact on the environment,” said Ralph LaRossa, president and chief operating officer of PSE&G.
PSEG says for every megawatt hour of electricity used to power the event, it will purchase and retire one renewable energy credit (REC) on behalf of Super Bowl XLVIII. This will include the electricity used at MetLife Stadium, the American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC) team hotels, and Super Bowl Boulevard—the largest public event associated with the Super Bowl, located in Times Square in New York City.
PSEG’s REC purchase will include New Jersey solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) equal to a four-week output of PSE&G’s Kearny Solar Farm. Located near MetLife Stadium, the Kearny Solar Farm is a three megawatt-dc farm that illustrates New Jersey’s effort to erect solar on undeveloped brownfields and landfills. The remaining RECs have been purchased from Community Energy Inc., a certified Green-e Supplier, sourced from the Jersey-Atlantic City Wind Farm.
“By purchasing wind and solar RECs locally, PSEG has added more value to this project,” said Jack Groh, director of the NFL Environmental Program. “In addition to providing green energy, purchasing locally puts money into the local economy and can help finance construction of additional renewable energy capacity in the region—something that will have a lasting impact beyond Super Bowl XLVIII.”
