The Vikings are focused on having a huge impact on the football field this year but have made sure that the carbon footprint from the team’s home games in 2009 is anything but huge.
It was announced today that the Vikings will offset 100 percent of the electricity used to power the Metrodome for all eight home games and any potential playoff games during the 2009 season through the purchase of renewable energy as part of Xcel Energy’s Windsource® program.
“The Vikings are committed to developing sustainable business practices and utilizing renewable energy sources whenever possible,” said Vikings owner and president, Mark Wilf. “We greatly appreciate the opportunity to partner with Xcel Energy on their Windsource program. Our hope is to build awareness and encourage other businesses and households to participate along with us.”
The action taken by the Vikings is equivalent to eliminating:
• Emissions from the electricity use of 31.9 homes for one year
• Emissions from 9,567 propane cylinders used for home barbeques
• 230 metric tons of CO2 Emissions (equal to 26,085 gallons of gasoline consumed)
“We are very excited to team up with the Vikings,” said Steve Mudd, Windsource program manager for Xcel Energy. “Not only will the team positively impact the environment, it will connect with fans across the state in a whole new way.”
The partnership with Xcel Energy and purchase of renewable energy also helps support
renewable energy projects in Minnesota, such as the MinWind III-IX wind farm near Luverne. A model of community-based wind ownership, the MinWind project includes seven 1.65-megawatt turbines and produces enough electricity annually to power nearly 3,000 homes. The project contributes significantly to the rural economy in the form of operating costs, property taxes, and lease payments to farmers who are still able to use their land for agricultural purposes.
With more than 21,000 residential customers and nearly 200 businesses in Minnesota, Xcel Energy’s Windsource program is the largest in the nation.
Xcel Energy customers interested in purchasing renewable energy for their homes or businesses should call Xcel Energy at 1-800- 895-4999 or visit www.xcelenergy.com/windsource.
