Inquirer Editorial: Linc lights
The Eagles have gone green, but that isn't a reference to the color of the team's jerseys. It's about being environmentally conscious, which is good for the team and the city.
The Eagles have gone green, but that isn't a reference to the color of the team's jerseys. It's about being environmentally conscious, which is good for the team and the city.
The Eagles plan to power Lincoln Financial Field with a combination of wind, solar, and dual-fuel-generated electricity, making the Linc the first major sports stadium in the world to convert to self-generated renewable energy.
The change will eliminate carbon-dioxide emissions equivalent to about 500,000 gallons of oil or 24 million gallons of gasoline annually. That's like taking 41,000 polluting cars off the street.
An Orlando, Fla., company called SolarBlue will install about 80 20-foot spiral-shaped turbines on the top rim of the stadium, which should give the Linc a futuristic appearance to go with its forward-thinking football team. Also, 2,500 solar panels will be installed on the stadium's facade.
SolarBlue will spend about $30 million to build the new system. The Eagles will then buy electricity from SolarBlue at a fixed rate of increase for the next 20 years.
By generating its own electricity, it's believed that the stadium will have enough leftover off-peak energy to even sell some back to the local electricity grid.
The Eagles are sending an important message with this commitment, a message that should resonate far from the football field in a nation that seeks cleaner air and energy independence.