Green Mountain Super Bowl Scores a Win for Sustainability with Green Mountain Energy
Let’s celebrate Green Mountain Energy for being the power for the Super Bowl! When the Pittsburgh Steelers faced off against the Green Bay Packers at Super Bowl XLV in Arlington, Texas, the game wasn’t just about football—it was also a major win for the environment. For the first time in NFL history, the league took bold steps to reduce the event’s environmental impact. That included partnering with Green Mountain Energy to offset 100% of the game’s carbon footprint.
Game-Changing Green Power
Green Mountain Energy, a pioneer in renewable energy, supplied more than 15 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean energy to offset the electricity used at Cowboys Stadium. This included energy used during the game itself, plus week-long festivities leading up to it. By purchasing renewable energy certificates (RECs), Green Mountain ensured that the energy used was matched with electricity generated from wind and solar sources.
That clean energy offset equaled what 1,500 U.S. homes use in a year. It also prevented more than 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions—the equivalent of removing 2,000 cars from the road for a year.
Tackling Emissions Off the Field
The Super Bowl’s environmental strategy went beyond just electricity. Green Mountain also helped the NFL offset carbon emissions from team travel, stadium operations, and fan transportation. These additional offsets helped ensure that Super Bowl XLV was as close to carbon-neutral as possible.
In addition, the NFL worked with local partners on recycling initiatives, tree-planting efforts, and waste reduction programs to minimize the event’s overall footprint.
Why It Matters
Major sporting events are so notorious for consuming massive amounts of energy and generating significant waste. By integrating clean energy and carbon offsets into the Super Bowl, the NFL set a new benchmark for sustainability in professional sports. It also demonstrated that even high-profile, high-energy events can operate with environmental responsibility.
A Model for the Future
Green Mountain Energy’s involvement showed how private-sector innovation can also support public-facing sustainability. With more leagues, teams, and venues now following suit—from solar-powered stadiums to zero-waste tailgates—the Super Bowl XLV initiative helped spark a broader shift in how sports tackle climate change.
As fan expectations evolve, the message is so clear: sustainability and entertainment don’t have to be rivals. In fact, when combined, they can most definitely deliver a win on and off the field.
Sources:
- Green Mountain Energy Official Announcement
“Green Mountain Energy Company Teams Up With NFL to Green Super Bowl XLV”. Published February 2011
https://www.greenmountainenergy.com
(Note: Content from the original press release may now be archived or moved) - Environmental Leader
“Green Mountain to Offset Super Bowl Power”
https://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/02/green-mountain-to-offset-super-bowl-power/ - USA Today – Green Super Bowl Coverage
“NFL tries to reduce Super Bowl carbon footprint” By Doyle Rice. USA Today, Feb 2011
https://usatoday.com
(Use internal search for “Super Bowl XLV green energy” if the direct link has changed.)
