This Sunday night, if you hear the sound of heads popping all around the US, it might be an indication that things are truly blowing up in headspace. When the 49ers and Chiefs visit Las Vegas, the Raiders will present Allegiant Stadium as a shining example of renewable energy virtue to Super Bowl viewers worldwide, and they are not afraid to go all out.
Presenting renewable energy to the hordes of American sports fans is by no means a novel concept. For instance, in 2010 CleanTechnica reported on the Pocono Raceway’s solar-powered operation as well as the Philadelphia Eagles’ temporary installation of futuristic wind turbines at Lincoln Financial Field.
Since then, a lot has transpired, such as the absurd electric car advertisement that General Motors ran for Super Bowl viewers in 2021 and numerous other Super Bowl electric car advertisements in the previous few years (here are some further examples from baseball and hockey as well).
It’s also nothing new that opponents and supporters of renewable energy have such a stark political difference. Still, something fresh has emerged in the last few years. Legislative action against ESG (environment, social, and governance) investing and corporate rules is the main tactic used by opponents of renewable energy in public office. The strategy aims to prevent investments in renewable energy.
All of this is to suggest that when the most popular sport in America pulls out the pom-poms for renewable energy, it’s both a political statement and a marketing gimmick.
The Raiders and Allegiant Stadium aren’t bringing any groundbreaking new digital innovations to the big game on Sunday in order to make a statement about clean electricity. Rather, they are depending on current technology and processes to show that cutting excess carbon emissions from the world economy is feasible, can be completed quickly, and doesn’t require giving up their favourite sport.
The company NZero, which bills itself as a “real-time data and decarbonisation platform for sustainability leaders,” is in charge of organising the endeavour.
NZero has something to say regarding the relationship between managing a business and taking steps to maintain a healthy and life-sustaining global environment, without resorting to the term “ESG.”
NZero refers to its collaboration with the Raiders and Allegiant as “together, they are helping to create a new era of sustainability in sports—one where sustainability and business practices are not mutually exclusive.”
The centrepiece of the initiative, according to NZero, is a 25-year carbon-free power purchase deal with NV Energy. The Raiders’ practice facility, administrative offices and stadium are all covered by the arrangement, which was started in 2023.
