Lincoln Center Completes Ambitious Campus Transformation by Choosing Wind Energy from Green Mountain Energy Company

Becomes First Performing Arts Center in New York City to be Powered by 100% Renewable Energy

 

NEW YORK – Green Mountain Energy Company is pleased to announce that Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts will become the first performing arts center in New York City to be powered by 100% wind energy. The wind energy to support Lincoln Center will be purchased by Green Mountain in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs). This purchase compliments the completion of Lincoln Center’s recent $1.2 billion transformation, which includes a new U.S. Green Building Council LEED® Gold certified building, the David Rubenstein Atrium.

“Our ambitious transformation to make Lincoln Center more open and accessible involves not only updating our world-class facilities, but also significantly developing our public spaces, and maximizing efficiency for the campus,” said Tim Hassett, Lincoln Center’s Vice President for Concert Halls & Operations. “Sustainability is important to Lincoln Center artists, students, and visitors, as well as our staff.”

 

Lincoln Center recently selected Green Mountain to provide 100% wind energy for the center’s electricity usage, which is estimated at 21.6 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually. Over the life of the three year contract, Lincoln Center’s choice of renewable energy instead of traditional energy is expected to avoid approximately 101 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is equivalent to recycling 170 million Playbills instead of sending them to the landfill, or not taking 41 million taxi rides.

 

Renewable energy will power Avery Fisher Hall (home to the New York Philharmonic), Alice Tully Hall (home to The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center), the Rose Building, the Central Mechanical Plant (which provides heating and cooling to the Metropolitan Opera), the Koch Theater (home of New York City Ballet) and Lincoln Center Theater.

 

The Juilliard School has purchased partial renewable energy in the past, but this year for the first time joins Lincoln Center in purchasing 100% renewable energy from Green Mountain Energy to power its classrooms, practice rooms, stages, and dormitories.

 

The wind energy to support Lincoln Center and Julliard will be purchased by Green Mountain in the form of RECs, which are the industry standard for accounting for renewable electricity generation. Purchasing RECs in the same quantity as Lincoln Center and Julliard’s electricity consumption ensures that the amount of energy used is added to the U.S. power grid from renewable sources and supports the continuation of these projects.

“Lincoln Center is home to the world’s most talented performing arts companies, and we are excited to bring green energy center stage to its community,” said Scott Hart, President of Commercial Services, Green Mountain Energy Company. “The performances and operations of Lincoln Center are now powered with 100% clean, renewable energy, representing a benefit both for the environment and supporters of the performing arts.”

 

Lincoln Center

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA) serves three primary roles: presenter of artistic programming, national leader in arts and education and community relations, and manager of the Lincoln Center campus. A presenter of more than 3,000 free and ticketed events, performances, tours, and educational activities annually, LCPA’s series include American Songbook, Great Performers, Lincoln Center Festival, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Midsummer Night Swing, the Mostly Mozart Festival, White Light Festival, and the Emmy Award-winning Live From Lincoln Center. As manager of the Lincoln Center campus, LCPA provides support and services for the Lincoln Center complex and the 11 resident organizations. In addition, LCPA has led a series of major capital projects, now nearly complete, on behalf of the resident organizations across the campus.

 

Green Mountain Energy Company

 

Green Mountain is the nation’s leading competitive retail provider of cleaner energy and believes in using wind, sun and water for good. Founded in 1997, the company celebrates 15 years delivering on the mission to “change the way power is made” and is the longest serving green power marketer in the nation. Green Mountain offers consumers and businesses the choice of cleaner electricity products from renewable sources, as well as a variety of carbon offset products and sustainable solutions for businesses. One of Green Mountain’s largest customers is the “world’s most famous office building,” the Empire State Building in New York City. Green Mountain customers have collectively helped avoid over 19.4 billion pounds of CO2 emissions. Visit us online at www.GreenMountain.com and learn more about our campaign for good at www.greenmountain.com/forgood.