Dive Brief:
- The Arizona Republic reports the Salt River Project (SRP) will supply free wind power to the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 in Phoenix as part of a $1 million sponsorship package.
- Power was expected to cost about $200,000 but will now run about a quarter of that amount.
- The deal is designed to showcase SRP's clean energy commitment as well as raise awareness of the role renewable energy can play in a balanced portfolio, a utility official said.
Dive Insight:
SRP's deal to power Super Bowl XLIX next month in Arizona was agreed to in 2013 but announced by the utility this week. The Arizona Republic reports it is part of a larger $1 million arrangement that also calls for SRP to provide a half million dollars in cash and and the remainder of the value in services.
The arrangement spurred debate two years ago over whether it was an appropriate role for SRP, a public utility.
"Providing green energy to the game is the perfect opportunity to showcase SRP's commitment to renewable energy," said Tom Cooper, SRP director of Resource Planning and Development. "It also helps raise awareness of the role renewable energy plays in a balanced portfolio designed to deliver affordable, reliable power to our customers."
The game will be held at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
The SRP Board has set a goal to meet 20% of SRP's retail electricity requirements through sustainable resources by the year 2020. Currently, SRP is ahead of schedule and provides more than 12% through sustainable resources.
