The Pennsylvania Convention Center announced today that NRG Business Solutions, a part of NRG Energy, Inc., will be powering its facilities with a portion of renewable energy beginning next year. The Convention Center chose renewable energy as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability.
"We are pleased to have been able to reduce our energy costs as much as possible, while also doing the right thing for the environment," said Gregory J. Fox, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA). "This agreement with NRG Business Solutions and Pro-Tech Energy Solutions has allowed us to secure an affordable power price for our facility using renewable energy."
The PCCA selected NRG Business Solutions as its electricity provider following a competitive procurement process. The Convention Center’s electricity usage, which is estimated at 26,525 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, will include 25 percent renewable energy as part of the recent agreement. The partnership announcement comes as the Convention Center prepares to host Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, Nov. 20-22, the world's largest conference dedicated to green building.
This is the first time the Convention Center will use renewable energy, bringing green benefits such as a reduced carbon footprint and increased awareness for sustainability by sharing this information with its attendees and partners. The renewable energy will be generated by sources such as wind.
The choice for renewable energy complements the existing sustainability efforts employed by the Convention Center, including:
- LEED-Gold certification of the Center’s 2011 expansion, a designation that hangs in its Broad Street Atrium entrance.
- Clearer, stronger and more energy-efficient lighting with the replacement of metal halide lighting in the 12th Street underpass between Race and Arch Streets with 202 LED lights, reducing energy costs, maintenance and its environmental impact.
- Plans to upgrade interior meeting room lights that will add to visual clarity, cost savings and reduced energy usage.
“The Convention Center is a Philadelphia icon and we’re proud to partner with them on their electricity choice,” said Scott Hart, President, NRG Business Solutions. “The Convention Center was originally looking at adding a 15 percent renewable energy component to its supply, but we were able to work with them to achieve a 25 percent commitment while still meeting budget demands.”
The two-year contract with NRG Business Solutions begins January 2014, and the renewable energy to support the Convention Center will be purchased by NRG Business Solutions in the form of Green-e Tier 1, renewable energy certificates (RECs). The Convention Center’s outside energy consultant, Pro-Tech Energy Solutions, helped procure the offer as part of the building’s larger sustainability effort.
“Working closely on behalf of the PCCA Board over the past three years, we have cut the Convention Center’s electricity and natural gas yearly cost by over 40 percent,” said Lou Nazirides, Director, Pro-Tech Energy Solutions. “Together with Steve Shepper, Director of Engineering for the Convention Center, we focused on reducing the Convention Center’s overall usage through various initiatives and enabling electricity suppliers to bid on a more predictable load.”
About Pennsylvania Convention Center
The Pennsylvania Convention Center is a premier meetings, conference and event facility located in Philadelphia, the “cradle of liberty” and the Birth place of the United States. The state-of the-art building is situated at the center of the city’s many cultural offerings and world-class dining and entertainment scene. For more information, go to www.paconvention.com.
About NRG Business Solutions
NRG Business Solutions delivers electricity and innovative energy solutions to the commercial and industrial (C&I) market on behalf of its parent company, NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) and its subsidiaries. We manage more than 120,000 large C&I meters as part of NRG’s retail portfolio of more than 2 million customers. NRG is leading a customer-driven change in the U.S. energy industry by delivering cleaner and smarter energy choices, while building on the strength of the nation’s largest and most diverse competitive power portfolio. A Fortune 500 company, we create value through reliable and efficient conventional generation while driving innovation in solar and renewable power, electric vehicle ecosystems, carbon capture technology and customer-centric energy solutions. More information is available at www.nrgenergy.com.
About Pro-Tech Energy Solutions
Pro-Tech Energy Solutions, LLC (“Pro-Tech”) is a leading energy solutions company founded in 2008. The company provides holistic energy solutions to its clients on both sides of their electric meter. Pro-Tech’s Energy Efficiency Division designs and implements energy saving improvement projects for commercial and government clients. Pro-Tech’s Renewable Energy Division provides engineering, procurement and construction services for commercial and utility scale solar PV projects throughout the United States for commercial and government clients. Learn more at http://www.pro-techenergy.com/.