PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a transformative, multi-year agreement, PGA of America has named leading competitive energy and services company Constellation its “Official Energy Provider and Sustainability Partner.” Constellation will work with the PGA to conduct energy efficiency analyses and recommend an actionable sustainability strategy and energy management program in an effort reduce the environmental impact of the organization. To kick off the partnership, Constellation will minimize the carbon footprint of the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club.
Constellation will become an energy and sustainability partner of the PGA of America, PGA Championship, KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup, when based in the United States. As part of the agreement, Constellation will minimize the environmental impact of these signature events, as well as PGA of America properties through Green-e® Energy Certified* Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)*.
“This is a historic day for the PGA of America, as our partnership with Constellation will bring us into the next generation of energy conservation and environmental awareness,” said PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua. “We are absolutely delighted that Constellation has partnered with the PGA to deliver their transformative expertise on clean energy, in order to establish a groundbreaking, impactful green signature throughout our iconic major championships and facilities, as well as educate PGA members and the golf industry on state-of-the-art green initiatives.”
Constellation, a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), serves approximately 2.5 million residential, public sector and business customers, including more than two-thirds of the Fortune 100. Constellation maintains energy provider relationships with professional sports organizations including the NHL, numerous MLB, NBA, and NFL sports teams.
"Constellation is proud to partner with the PGA of America to achieve its energy and environmental goals and to increase awareness of responsible energy use among its members and the golf industry," said Joe Nigro, CEO of Constellation. "Their commitment to energy conservation serves as an example for the sports industry, fans and communities. We look forward to working together toward a more sustainable future."
The PGA of America and Constellation will also work together to promote responsible energy use and increase awareness around green initiatives in the golf industry, through communications that educate PGA Professionals and fans on the impact of the partnership.
“With over 25 million players annually, golf plays an important role in our efforts to leverage the cultural and market influence of sports to promote healthy, sustainable communities where we live and play,” said Justin Zeulner, executive director and co-founder of the Green Sports Alliance. “We commend the PGA of America for their commitment to sustainability and are proud that they have chosen Constellation, an inaugural GSA member, as their official energy and sustainability partner.”
This agreement builds upon the PGA of America’s and the golf industry’s commitment to green energy and conservation. 77 percent of 18-hole golf facilities in the United States have already taken steps to conserve energy, while 66 percent of golf course facilities have completed upgrades to irrigation systems in the past 10 years. In addition, more than 90 percent of acreage on an 18-hole golf course is considered green space that provides benefits to the eco-system.
Similarly, golf’s use of water, frequently among the largest contributors to courses energy use, continues to improve. As an industry, a new Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) study shows courses reduced water use by nearly 22 percent from 2005-2013. As well, increased use of recycled water supported usage reductions from other sources, such as municipal or potable water.
Golf courses account for more than 2 million acres of green space in the United States.
About the PGA of America
For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGAMediaCenter.com, follow @PGAofAmerica on Twitter and find us on Facebook.
About Constellation
Constellation is a leading competitive retail supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the continental United States. Constellation's family of retail businesses serves approximately 2.5 million residential, public sector and business customers, including more than two-thirds of the Fortune 100. Baltimore-based Constellation is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation's leading competitive energy provider, with 2015 revenues of approximately $34.5 billion, and more than 32,700 megawatts of owned capacity comprising one of the nation's cleanest and lowest-cost power generation fleets. Learn more at www.constellation.com or on Twitter at @ConstellationEG.
About the Green Sports Alliance
The Green Sports Alliance leverages the cultural and market influence of sports to promote healthy, sustainable communities where we live and play. The nonprofit does so by inspiring sports leagues, teams, venues, their partners, and millions of fans to embrace renewable energy, healthy food, recycling, water efficiency, species preservation, safer chemicals, and other environmentally preferable practices. Alliance members represent over 370 sports teams and venues from 20 different sports leagues and 14 countries. Visit greensportsalliance.org for more information.
