Utility Partners with Fans to Offset Travel and Other Carbon Emissions
NEW ORLEANS – What does a 300-cow
dairy farm in Central Michigan have to do with the festivities surrounding Super
Bowl XLVII in New Orleans? The answer: The farm is one of three carbon offset
projects providing carbon credits aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions
associated with the big game.
The carbon credits are part of a
larger “Geaux Green” initiative launched by the Super Bowl XLVII Host Committee,
Entergy Corporation, and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) to
limit the environmental impact of the Super Bowl.
On the farm in Michigan, methane gas
is being captured before it enters the atmosphere. This action generates
registered carbon credits, which Entergy is purchasing to offset greenhouse gas
emissions from Super Bowl-related activities.
The emissions include those related
to travel to and from the Super Bowl by the players, coaches, cheerleaders and
other support staff from the two teams. The credits will neutralize or offset
the environmental impact of power needed to operate Super Bowl venues including
the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
and team hotels. Approximately 4,500 megawatts of power will be needed,
resulting in some 3.8 million pounds of CO2. These emissions will be offset by
the carbon credits provided by Entergy.
“Entergy is committed to protecting
our environment, and the Super Bowl offers a unique opportunity to showcase
creative programs aimed at making a difference,” said Patty Riddlebarger,
director of corporate social responsibility for Entergy Corporation and the
environmental initiatives chair for the New Orleans Host Committee.
Football fans can do their part by
visiting the Geaux Green website (http://neworleans-superbowl.com/geauxgreen).
An easy-to-use calculator helps determine the carbon emissions associated with
their trip to the big game. Fans can select how much of their travel they want
to offset (starting at $5) and choose the carbon-offset project from which they
would like to purchase credits. Entergy is matching fan offset purchases
dollar-for-dollar.
Offset projects include a landfill
gas collection project in Denton, Texas, a forest conservation initiative in the
heart of California’s redwood region and the methane-capture project in
Michigan. All three projects have been certified to deliver the promised
greenhouse gas reductions by the
Climate Action
Reserve.
The Geaux Green website also offers
an environment-themed game for all football fans — traveling to the game or not.
Visitors to the site can make pledges to take simple steps to reduce their
energy use and environmental impact in the coming year. Entergy is matching all
Geaux Green game pledges.
In all, Entergy estimates that the
company’s offset purchases related to the Super Bowl will result in more than 26
million pounds of avoided greenhouse gas emissions.
“Hosting the Super Bowl in the city
where Entergy is headquartered is exciting,” said Riddlebarger. “Through Geaux
Green, we’re assuring the benefits of the big game are far-reaching and
everlasting.”
For more information Visit the Geaux
Green website at (http://neworleans-superbowl.com/geauxgreen).
Visit the http://www.neworleans-superbowl.com/">Super
Bowl Host Committee website at neworleans-superbowl.com. Twitter: follow @tweetanimpact and #geauxgreen
for game updates Facebook: Like us at
www.facebook.com/geauxgreen.mai.
The Center for Climate and Energy
Solutions (C2ES) is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization
promoting strong policy and action to address the twin challenges of energy and
climate change. Launched in November 2011, C2ES is the successor to the Pew
Center on Global Climate Change.
The Center for Climate and Energy
Solutions has partnered with Entergy to bring the Make an Impact program to
Entergy communities. Make an Impact is a unique, community-focused project aimed
at raising awareness and mobilizing action on climate change. It provides tools
and resources for Entergy employees, customers, their families and the local
community to understand and manage their individual carbon footprint.
Entergy Corporation, which celebrates
its 100th birthday this year, is an integrated energy company engaged primarily
in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns
and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric
generating capacity, including more than 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power,
making it one of the nation’s leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers
electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi
and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and
approximately 15,000 employees.
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entergy.com
twitter: @Entergy.com
