For the first time in Super Bowl history, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will rely entirely on renewable energy. Owned by NV Energy and developed by EDF Renewables, a vast solar farm in the Nevada desert consisting of 621,000 panels and battery storage will provide the electricity.
The Raiders have a 25-year agreement with NV Energy to purchase renewable energy for their stadium and other facilities. This project can also provide power to other NV Energy customers in the area.
NZero, the company monitoring the stadium’s greenhouse gas emissions, estimates that the Super Bowl will consume approximately 28 megawatt hours of electricity, which is equivalent to the power usage of around 46,000 homes.
Adam Kramer, CEO of NZero, hopes that the sustainability efforts showcased at the Super Bowl will inspire individuals, small businesses, and other corporations to adopt similar practices. The significance of sustainability being highlighted at such a prominent event signals its importance.
Kramer mentioned that Allegiant Stadium will utilize renewable energy to decrease its own emissions directly, instead of purchasing carbon offsets that supposedly reduce pollution elsewhere.
NV Energy has made a deal with Allegiant Stadium as part of their plan to comply with state law and generate 50% of their energy from renewable sources by 2030.
In addition to using renewable energy during Super Bowl , the Las Vegas Raiders have implemented various sustainability measures at Allegiant Stadium. These include waste management programs and the incorporation of energy- and water-efficient systems during construction.
After every event, the stadium sends approximately 12,000 pounds of food waste to a livestock farm in Las Vegas. Additionally, they compost grass clippings and cigarettes, or convert them into energy. In July, the stadium achieved LEED Gold Certification, making it one of only seven stadiums in the US to have this distinction, which is the second-highest ranking given by the US Green Building Council.
Reference- LEED Gold Certification website, Business Insider, EDF Renewable, NV Energy