Constellation, a leading competitive energy and services company and the official preferred energy provider of the NHL, will match the carbon dioxide emissions of the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, with energy generated from environmentally responsible renewable resources through Green-e® Energy Certified* Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), minimizing the carbon footprint of one of the League’s premiere events. In an effort to increase fan awareness of responsible energy use, the game will also feature a pregame public service announcement featuring Stanley Cup® Champion Andrew Ference.
“Our partnership with Constellation advances the commitment of the National Hockey League to the promotion of responsible energy use,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “Our teams and our fans all know our game was born in winter weather and that everyone benefits from actively preserving the environment that keeps our ponds frozen.”
As the NHL’s official preferred energy provider, Constellation works with the NHL to conduct energy efficiency analyses and recommend energy management strategies for NHL arenas and team facilities. Through its partnership with Constellation, the NHL now ranks as the 20th largest user of green power in the U.S., according to the EPA’s Green Power Partnership, and was recognized with the 2015 Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its leadership, overall strategy, and impact on the green power market.
“Outdoor games like the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic that evoke the tradition of pond hockey are an opportunity to highlight the importance of environmental responsibility and sustainable energy use,” said Mark Huston, president of Constellation Retail. “Constellation is proud to support the NHL’s energy and environmental goals for this event and throughout the league. By promoting responsible energy use, the NHL is setting an example for the sports industry, fans and communities.”
Through its partnership with league, Constellation supplies Green-e Energy Certified*RECs to match all NHL games and premier events with energy generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, and supplies Green-e Climate certified carbon offsets to match the estimated amount of GHG emissions resulting from certain League activities such as waste-to-landfill and air travel. During the 2014-15 season, Constellation supplied more than 271 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of RECs and supplied carbon offsets to match 126,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e).
In addition to its efforts to reduce the environmental impact of the game, Constellation powered the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Legacy Initiative which culminated in the unveiling of the newly renovated Bryan McGonagle Street Hockey Rink at Ryan Playground in Charlestown earlier this month.
Constellation is also a supporter of NHL Green™, the comprehensive environmental sustainability initiative launched by the League in 2010 to address the effects of climate change and freshwater scarcity on the game of hockey. The NHL is the first professional sports league in North America to issue a sustainability report, documenting and disclosing the League’s carbon footprint.
