Super bowl tackles climate change

The field won't be the only thing green about Super Bowl XLVI. The NFL has a plan in their playbook to tackle the carbon dioxide emissions caused by energy use at the six major Super Bowl facilities. Renewable energy certificates will pass 15,000 megawatt hours of clean energy to the NFL's environmental receivers. At the slick new Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis even the lights shining on the New York Giants and New England Patriots will be accounted for by renewable energy certificates provided by Green Mountain Energy Company. The stadium's namesake, Lucas Oil sells gasoline additives and other automotive products. But the NFL doesn't want grease stains on their uniforms. They bought carbon credits to intercept the emissions resulting from transporting the Super Bowl teams to the stadium, according to NFL.com. Go long to find the source of the renewable energy certificates. Wind farms in North Dakota actually produced the renewable energy Green Mountain Energy sold to the NFL. Since one electron is indistinguishable from another, it's impossible to know if any of the electricity produced in North Dakota actually reaches the Super Bowl facilities. But the NFL's purchase of the certificates can offset the greenhouse gases associated with the energy physically used at Lucas Oil Stadium. The certificates will blitz and sack the emission of 14,000 tons of gases during the month of Super Bowl related activities in and around Indianapolis. “Green Mountain Energy Company has helped us reduce the overall environmental impact of Super Bowl activities,” said NFL Environmental Program Director Jack Groh in a press release. “Together, we have been able to expand the way we address greenhouse gas emissions and leave a permanent benefit to the host community.” The National Football League's commitment to an eco-friendly Super Bowl kicked off 18 years ago, and has been steadily gaining yardage. This year, after the green energy touchdown, the NFL will be going for the two point conversion with several other environmental programs, according to NFL.com, including: -    Planting trees in Indianapolis neighborhoods, in partnership with the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee, Green Mountain Energy and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful -    Recycling and reusing what it can from the tons of refuse created by the event. Many promotional items and decorations will be donated to local non-profits to use in fund raising efforts. -    Donating extra prepared food from Super Bowl XLVI events to soup kitchens, shelters and other local organizations that provide meals to those in need, in partnership with Second Helpings, an Indianapolis-based non profit community kitchen and food rescue agency.