The Philadelphia Eagles have announced a plan to power their stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, with a combination of on-site solar, wind and dual-fuel generated electricity. According to the organization, the stadium will be the world's first major sports stadium to convert to self-generated renewable energy.
The Eagles have contracted with Orlando, Fla.-based SolarBlue, a renewable energy and energy conservation company, to affix 2,500 solar panels on the stadium's facade, as well as install approximately 80 20-foot spiral-shaped wind turbines on the top rim of the stadium and build a 7.6 MW on-site dual-fuel cogeneration plant. The plant will include sophisticated monitoring and switching technology to operate the system, the Eagles note.
Over the next year, SolarBlue will invest in excess of $30 million to build out the system, with a completion goal of September 2011. SolarBlue will maintain and operate the stadium's power system for the next 20 years at a fixed percent annual price increase in electricity, saving the Eagles an estimated $60 million in energy costs.
SolarBlue anticipates directly employing 200 local people during the year-long design and installation phase. One-quarter of these jobs will be permanently maintained over the 20-year operational time frame.
SOURCE: Philadelphia Eagles
