Major Leagues Push for Solar Sports Stadiums

The dominant professional sports leagues in the United States have rallied together to urge for solar-powered sports stadiums to become reality.

Together, Major League Soccer, the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association have contacted member parties and – in collaboration with Bonneville Environmental Foundation and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) - they have also created a dedicated guide to solar energy use in stadiums.

Solar Stadiums

This guide highlights existing solar stadium technologies such as those at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, whose roof incorporates 1,700 photovoltaic panels. These panels are aimed at ultimately reducing the site’s CO2 emissions by more than 10,000 tons, sulphur dioxide emissions by over 27 tons and nitrous oxide emissions by more than 33 tons.

If all stadiums embraced solar energy the way STAPLES has – according to the report – the following could be achieved:

• Overall, US CO2 emissions would decrease by roughly 86.6 million tons every 12 months – the same as if over 8,000 cars were no longer on the roads
• An amount of electricity would be produced that would be sufficient to electrify about 4,812 US homes for 12 months
• 33,970 crude oil barrels would be saved every 12 months

Solar Panels: Stadiums

The guide also points out that solar energy harnessing doesn’t and shouldn’t need to be confined to the hottest/sunniest parts of America. For example, solar panels already feature in stadiums located in Cleveland, Seattle, Boston and Pittsburgh.

”We are acutely aware that our League, as well as all sports leagues, need to be responsible stewards of our planet”, National Hockey League Commissioner, Gary Bettman, stated in an NRDC press release issued 8 September 2010.

“Utilizing solar energy is an important and efficient environmental action that sends a broader signal to the culture. It not only conveys a critical message to all sports fans, it improves the efficiency of our facilities and protects the environment.”

“Throughout US history professional sports leagues have stepped up on behalf of our troops. They have stepped up for civil rights. And now they are stepping up for the environment”, Senior Scientist at NRDC, Allen Hershkowitz, added.

“It’s not about politics; it’s about what is right for America. This is really a remarkable moment and effort coming from our professional sports leagues.”

See also -

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