Super Bowl XLI Will Use 100% Renewable Energy RECs

[jpak]

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=47303

Super Bowl XLI and the NFL Experience Football Theme Park will both be 100% renewable energy events this year.

Using renewable energy certificates (RECs), Sterling Planet and the FPL Sunshine Energy program for business customers will provide Florida- generated renewable energy from solar and bioenergy sources in the name of Dolphin Stadium, the NFL and the South Florida Super Bowl XLI Host Committee.

"The partnership between the NFL Environmental Program, Sterling Planet and FPL's Sunshine Energy(R) program will leave a lasting legacy in Florida," said Vinnie Fugere, Sterling Planet's client manager for the NFL. "The NFL has taken a leadership role in bringing energy independence and environmental stewardship to the state."

Long after Super Bowl XLI, the commitment to clean, renewable energy at Dolphin Stadium will endure. The event precedes the launch of FPL's Sunshine Energy program to business customers, who can begin enrollment April 1, 2007.

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[Mabus]

1. Incredible

Gore has really helped get the issue of global climate change into the consciousness of America. The more things like this that happen the more it will become a mainstream idea that will help push the economy toward new technologies. Imagine, an economy based on protecting and healing the earth while making megabucks. This, to me, has so many implications in other areas as well: the overall health of Americans (and the rest of the world) will be better, our educational systems will start stressing science and a hightened awareness of our interconnectiveness with others and the planet.

I know. I'm a dreamer.

K&R

[druidity33]

2. what does this mean?

Do they buy "renewable" energy from the Utility company? Doesn't that just give them more money? Is the utility company offering revised grants to homeowners for solar conversion based on this new account? How do we know that "Long after Super Bowl XLI, the commitment to clean, renewable energy at Dolphin Stadium will endure"? Are they actually putting panels near the stadium? Are the lights in the parking lot solar? What kind of chemicals do they use on the field? How much runoff is created by their GIANT parking lot?

I'd like to think this is a hopeful sign, but it just sounds like a little publicity/propaganda to me...

:shrug:

[jpak]

3. Qualified renewable power producers can sell RECs along with electricity produced

They are sold in blocks of power (usually 1000 kWh).

Purchases of RECs financially support the development of renewable energy.

(simple answer)

more here...

http://www.evomarkets.com/rec/index.php?xp1=2

[druidity33]

4. good on paper...

but i have very little faith in programs like this. They generate precious little money for people to have energy independence. Nor do they focus on sustainability issues. The money primarily goes to funding large scale (power plant style) Renewable initiatives or to staff state offices and pay for advertising.

better than nothing i guess...

[jpak]

6. Not so - In most states, homeowners with PV or wind systems get the RECs

and sell them (for several hundred bucks a piece).

I can't think of a state where they don't.

RECs plus utility rebates significantly reduce the payback periods for these home power systems...

[Land Shark]

5. Any household or person can do this for the year for $100 - $200

per year if your family is small and air travel not too heavy. See http://www.cooldriver.org/ to make your vehicle climate neutral

you can also do this for your vehicle AND your entire household:

carbon calculator (for one particular product called Green Tags to be climate neutral)
http://www.b-e-f.org/GreenTags/faq_pages/calculator.shtm

Al Gore's movie was climate neutral via www.nativeenergy.com where the money you pay to be climate neutral directly causes investment in windpower involving investment in Native American lands, creating extra social value. Go here to skip intro movie if low bandwidth http://www.nativeenergy.com/welcome.html

This is a good way to pay the true social cost of our own consumption, while making the world more just along the way...

[kestrel91316]

7. Kick for LandShark's very helpful post