Super Bowl 2024: A Green Milestone with Nevada Desert Solar Farm Powering the Event

The upcoming Super Bowl 2024 is not just an anticipated showdown between top NFL teams but also a significant environmental milestone. For the first time in history, the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will host a Super Bowl powered entirely by renewable energy. This groundbreaking decision marks a significant step towards sustainability and reducing carbon emissions in the sports industry.

The seemingly desolate Nevada desert is the source of the green energy used to power the game. A vast solar farm, spanning over 621,000 panels, shimmers like a mirage in the desert landscape. This solar installation, capable of powering close to 60,000 residential customers, is more than enough to meet the energy demands of the Super Bowl.

The Las Vegas Raiders, the home team at Allegiant Stadium, have entered into a 25-year agreement to buy power from this new solar installation owned by NV Energy. The solar farm will supply more than 10 megawatts of power for the Super Bowl, which is roughly equivalent to the consumption of 46,000 homes.

Sustainability was a top priority during the stadium’s construction. The stadium’s roof is made of a sustainable plastic material that allows in about 10% of daylight but blocks all solar heat, reducing the need for energy-intensive cooling systems. The grass field is moved outdoors on a rail system to get natural sunlight rather than using energy-intensive growing lights. And everything from grass clippings to food scraps and cigarette butts are composted or converted into other forms of energy.

“When you come to a game, you may be thinking about just focusing on the game, but when they hear that and know that we’re being conscious of our environmental footprint, hopefully, that guest will leave and have that same mindset when they go back home,” said Sandra Douglass Morgan, Raiders President.

The Super Bowl’s green energy push was highlighted during a visit from U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, who inspected the stadium’s main electrical entry room. “People sometimes get nervous about renewable power because they’re not sure if it’s going to be reliable. The fact that renewable power can power a facility like this reliably should speak volumes about what could happen in other communities,” Granholm said.

The solar farm not only powers the current needs but also houses massive batteries to store renewable energy, ensuring a five-hour power supply even when the sun isn’t shining. This technology is seen as a key component in transitioning the U.S. power grid toward 100% clean electricity by 2035, a goal set by President Biden.

Despite the focus on environmental sustainability, the Super Bowl’s entertainment, including a halftime show featuring performer Usher, will not be compromised. “We have enough power for Usher and all of his lights and all the fanfare that’ll be there,” said Doug Cannon, CEO of NV Energy.

The Super Bowl’s green energy push is a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions in the sports industry. The National Football League (NFL) has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 30% by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2040. The use of renewable energy at the Super Bowl is a clear demonstration of the NFL’s commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint.

The solar farm in the Nevada desert is just the beginning. The NFL is exploring the use of renewable energy at other stadiums and events, including the NFL Draft and the Pro Bowl. The league is also working with its partners to reduce emissions in areas such as transportation, food and beverage, and merchandise.

The Super Bowl’s green energy push is a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions in the sports industry and setting an example for other events and industries to follow. The use of renewable energy at the Super Bowl is a clear demonstration of the NFL’s commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint.

In conclusion, Super Bowl 2024 is not just an anticipated sporting event but also a significant environmental milestone. The use of renewable energy from a vast solar farm in the Nevada desert is a clear demonstration of the NFL’s commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. This groundbreaking decision marks a significant step towards sustainability and reducing carbon emissions in the sports industry. The solar farm not only powers the Super Bowl but also sets the stage for the transition towards 100% clean electricity in the U.S. power grid by 2035. The NFL’s commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint is a significant step towards creating a more sustainable future for sports and the world.