Press release from Just Energy:
Dallas, Texas, January 27, 2011 – A Green Energy program created by Just Energy, the largest competitive green energy retailer in North America, the National Football League and the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee will ensure the 2011 Super Bowl will be the greenest NFL championship on record.
Just Energy has committed to offset all direct and indirect carbon emissions associated with power generation at major Super Bowl XLV venues. This includes energy consumed at Cowboys Stadium for the entire month leading up to Super Bowl XLV, electricity used at NFL Super Bowl headquarters, the Super Bowl Media Center, the AFC and NFC team hotels, and the electricity used at the NFL Experience Football Theme Park – the largest public event at Super Bowl.
“We’re thrilled to be chosen by the NFL to play a key role in the ‘greening’ of the world’s most significant annual sports championship,” said Ken Hartwick, Chief Executive Officer of Just Energy. “Every day we see more organizations and more people becoming greener in their habits. We see this as a powerful opportunity to join the NFL and lead by example before a global audience.”
Under an agreement between the National Football League and Just Energy, Just Energy will purchase renewable energy certificates (REC) on behalf of Super Bowl XLV, ensuring that for every megawatt of electricity used to power the event facilities, both directly and indirectly, one megawatt of renewable energy will be generated.
The electricity purchased in connection with Super Bowl XLV will be generated by the Sweetwater Wind Farm located in Sweetwater, Texas, 228 miles west of Dallas. Just Energy ensures that the green energy products purchased and sold meet the highest standards of quality, are local and are certified.
It’s no fluke that this is happening. The Super Bowl is the most American of American holy days, and it gives us a window into what the society is thinking, what it is dreaming, and what it aspires to.
The fact is, despite what Fox News, and other oil soaked climate deniers will tell you:
The vast majority of mainstream Americans know climate change is real.
Polling data shows Americans know something is wrong, and want something done about it.
The vast majority of mainstream Americans want renewable energy, they want the government to spearhead a transformation to sustainable power, and they want it to happen this year.
When asked which energy source they would support if they were president, 41 percent picked solar. Three percent chose coal. Together, solar and wind together were favored nearly 20 times more than America’s dirtiest fuel.
so just what does this mean:
“Under an agreement between the National Football League and Just Energy, Just Energy will purchase renewable energy certificates (REC) on behalf of Super Bowl XLV, ensuring that for every megawatt of electricity used to power the event facilities, both directly and indirectly, one megawatt of renewable energy will be generated.”
If they don’t buy the REC, the power won’t be produced? the wind turbines will be shut down?
I’m afraid this is seriously unfortunate greenwashing!
And what about all the jet fuel & gasoline burned by the fans attending from who knows where?
Hard to belive this really means anything positive!