Member Highlight: NextEra’s Clean Energy Solutions for Sports and Entertainment Venues

NextEra Energy Resources (NextEra), together with its affiliated entities, is a clean-energy leader and the world’s largest operator of renewable energy from the wind and sun, as well as one of the largest wholesale generators of electric power in the U.S. In December, NextEra partnered with Green Sports Alliance to educate Alliance member organizations in California on implementing renewable energy solutions.Stadiums and entertainment venues have significant exposure to energy costs because of both the amount and time of day that energy is used. The timing of the energy consumed at venues often increases the expense through high demand charges from the utility, and can even reduce the cost-effectiveness of energy-saving installations like LEDs. NextEra works with customers nationwide to identify the optimal solution to address those costs and meet sustainability goals using a variety of technologies, financing structures, local programs, and incentives.Why should your team care about renewable energy?

• Lower Your Energy Costs - Smarter energy strategies can help stadiums stabilize and reduce expenses. There are even opportunities to create revenue if stadiums partner with the local utility to enhance grid stability.
• Enhance Your Brand - Sustainability is simply a matter of doing the right thing, and fans and sponsors alike want to be associated with that. Plus, you can demonstrate your commitment to the community by bringing jobs and clean energy.
• Build in Resiliency - At the Super Bowl in 2013, a power surge at the Superdome created a blackout, after equipment sensed an abnormality in the system from a Beyoncé halftime show with extravagant lighting and video effects. Having a backup system such as energy storage can significantly reduce the negative impacts of system issues and give your stadium a reliability edge.

NextEra considers a venue’s individual load profile, sustainability goals, and energy costs to identify and deliver a tailored solution from start to finish. The breadth of NextEra’s expertise allows it to customize solutions to fit a customer’s unique needs, from on-site solar and energy storage, to EV charging stations, renewable energy credits and community solar gardens. For example, NextEra’s community solar gardens allow subscribers, including a professional sports team in Minnesota, to purchase a fixed amount of solar power without having to install a system on their own property.Read more about NextEra’s solar gardens.