New England Soccer Today

Going Green

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – It’s hardly the stadium news fans of the New England Revolution want to hear, but the current home of the Revs and the NFL’s New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium, will see much of its power coming from alternative energy sources in the near future.

An agreement between The Kraft Group and NRG Energy, announced today, will see the amount of solar energy generated at Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place triple. The agreement also includes pursuing the addition of a full-sized wind turbine at Patriot Place.

“Since the construction of Gillette Stadium, we have focused on long-term sustainability and energy efficiency,” said Robert Kraft, Chairman and CEO of The Kraft Group and owner of the New England Revolution. “We introduced solar power with the addition of Patriot Place, and NRG will help us take our renewable energy efforts to new heights. In addition to being good corporate citizens and a desire to leave behind a healthy environment for our children and grandchildren, we also believe that this is good business.”

In addition to rooftop panels, the plan calls for solar panels above some of Patriot Place’s outdoor walkways, which would also serve the purpose of providing cover for visitors in poor weather. The new installation is expected to cover up to 60% of Patriot Place’s energy needs and reduce carbon emissions by more than 800 metric tons every year.

Patriot Place already has a 525-kilowatt photovoltaic power system and this new project will add an additional capability of one-megawatt to the system.

The project will not be finished before the start of the Revolution’s season, but is expected to be completed before the end of the summer.

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