Super Bowl plugging into renewable power

Tampa, Florida - Pretending to be a pro-football player, it takes a lot of energy to go through the NFL Experience. And, with all the lights and video screens and equipment, it takes a lot of energy to run the place.

This year, the NFL is finding that energy in a new place. The league is plugging into renewable energy to power both the NFL Experience and Raymond James Stadium on game day.

"As you can imagine, the power demands of an NFL stadium and a large event like the NFL Experience are huge," says Jack Groh, who helps design NFL environmental programs. "And one way to reduce the carbon footprint, the climate impact of that, is by using renewable power."

The NFL is purchasing renewable energy from TECO, which gets that power from solar panels in the Tampa Bay area, and from a biomass facility in South Florida.

TECO spokesman Rick Morera says the NFL's energy purchase means that less energy needs to be produced by coal-fired or natural gas plants, which in turn reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emissions. According to Morera, the environmental benefit of the NFL's purchase is about the same as pulling 20 cars off the road for a year.

The NFL's commitment to green extends beyond power to décor. All the banners and flags on display will either by reused next year or given to local charities to auction at fundraisers.

Even the super-sized banners on the stadium will be cut down to size. "A company is going to pick up all those really big pieces and re-manufacture them into things like tote bags and wallets," says Groh.

Reuse, recycle and renew are part of the NFL's playbook that scores for the environment.

For more information on the NFL Experience, click here.

For more on the NFL Environmental Program, click here.