PRESS RELEASE: Washington Redskins and NRG Energy Bring Solar Power to FedExField

[grhqofb5]

Is Mr. Snyder going to block out the sun, like Burnsy did in that Simpsons episode? At least he could be more original. And I'm still waiting for my platinum brick.

---------- Post added July-13th-2011 at 01:45 PM ----------

So that's official or just something you came up with?

I've always wondered why some automanufacter hasn't tried to design a car with solar panels on the roof. Everyday during the summer I have to start my car and stand outside of it to let it cool off. Seems like a lot of energy is being wasted.

[SonnyandSam]

So that's official or just something you came up with?

That is the same picture shown on Redskins.com. pretty cool, huh?

[B55Green]

It's very interesting, that's for sure. Nice to see them be the second team in D.C to go green (I don't think Verizon Center has?).

[SonnyandSam]

Is Mr. Snyder going to block out the sun, like Burnsy did in that Simpsons episode? At least he could be more original. And I'm still waiting for my platinum brick.

---------- Post added July-13th-2011 at 01:45 PM ----------



I've always wondered why some automanufacter hasn't tried to design a car with solar panels on the roof. Everyday during the summer I have to start my car and stand outside of it to let it cool off. Seems like a lot of energy is being wasted.

Because cars are already too damn expensive and there is no federal credit (i.e. our tax money) paying for it. Do you really want to spend another $5-10,000 for a car?

I saw a show on discovery channel a few months back that showed one of the big car companies creating paint that wold absorb the sunlight and recharge the batteries in the car. Little flecks of something mixed in with the paint. Sounded kind of cool....of course, it is years away from reality, if then.

And they have a competition every year or so with solar powered cars that compete in races. Surprised you haven't heard or seen them. I'm sure you could find some info by Googling.

[Darth Tater]

So instead of pissing away money on washed up free agents, Dan has found a different way to waste his money. Can you say "Green Energy Fee" added to tickets/parking passes. Or maybe he'll offset the cost by raising beer prices to $30/bottle and adding $1 toilet use fees. Two megawatts is no doubt what the ideal/maximum output of the system could provide, given a perfectly sunny day and between the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. depending on the season. I'd venture to say he will get NO ROI. Whatever, it's his money, but this screams pure PR move to me.

/skeptical rant off.

I'd bet he got this with a heavily discounted deal, maybe even a deal with "rebates" (read legal kickback) that could reduce the part of Redskins revenue that must be shared and move some to a revenue source that doesn't have to be shared, since for NRG this amounts to a marketing opportunity in addition to a revenue producing one. There are also tax credits. Finally, a PR move also brings in tangible benefits to a business else it would not make such a choice. Also, such a move could assist him in securing certain deals and provide him an opportunity to raise prices (prices are only indirectly driven by costs). All this is more than enough to make such a business decision with a very positive ROI.

[Byner21]

Great move.

Sure looks like FedEx will be around for a while huh.

---------- Post added July-13th-2011 at 12:24 PM ----------

I've always wondered why some automanufacter hasn't tried to design a car with solar panels on the roof. Everyday during the summer I have to start my car and stand outside of it to let it cool off. Seems like a lot of energy is being wasted.

The Prius has an option to have solar panels on the roof. I think it powers the a/c.

[Darth Tater]

I'm sure that tax credits and corporate sponsorship are part of the deal, but the only win for DS on this deal would be if NRG paid for, owned, and operated the system, which may very well be the actual arrangement. And what happens when the Philly fans come and trash the panels!

Remember, if DS can move revenue around properly, he makes around 20% ROI GUARANTEED less any additional maintenance and restoration costs which would provide even more opportunity to recognize revenue in other places or could be, at least in part, NRG's responsibility. This is an indication of the big reason the owners didn't want to open up their books and it has very little to do with the players. It is easier to recognize revenue in other places when such as action is not open to a non-biased forensic accountant and coercion is not an option like it is for the government.

---------- Post added July-13th-2011 at 01:54 PM ----------

Not that I didn't agree with the rest of your post, but this part resonates with me. It literally has NO negative impact on anyone else, but because it doesn't have a directly positive effect on these posters, they have to get all pissed off about it.

I hope that they realize that this kind of technology, with this kind of exposure in the media, trickles down. I don't know about you guys, but I can't/never would buy platinum parking. I would, however, love to put a translucent roof that garners energy over my driveway so that in the winter I am enjoying putting the thermostat up a few degrees instead of breaking my back shoveling out of the next blizzard.

Yep, the best way to generate money to provide fans with a better game day experience (winning is the best way to improve experience but DS doesn't directly control that and seems most of us don't even want him to try) is to generate the largest profit you can. That is, part of the profit is what a successful business re-invests to improve its operations (the rest is payment for using resources in a way society most values rather than some other manner).

[RenegadeTK]

No complaints here. I hope other teams in all leagues follow suit.

[skinfan2k]

it would have been sick to have a roof over fedex of solar panels :P is that next?

[PleaseGoForTheWin]

The Prius has an option to have solar panels on the roof. I think it powers the a/c.

Yes, this is correct. It's an upgrade on the latest generation of Prius. Basically, the solar panels power a ventilation system so your car will air out as it sits in the middle of the parking lot or wherever. It doesn't need to be on, you don't need to be in it, etc.

[Crazy Levi]

I am not happy about this at all. I don't like the environment.

[skinsdude]

I am not happy about this at all. I don't like the environment.

I certainly don't like the current environment at FedEx Field. There's something in the air that breeds losing.

[SkinsFanJPD]

I certainly don't like the current environment at FedEx Field. There's something in the air that breeds losing.

Lots of fans agree with you. Yesterday, Czaban and Pollin had some operations guy from Fed Ex Field on and they got him to admit that there are really no planned party decks but they just took out the seats because no one would buy them. He said they were offered to everyone on the "waiting list". Czaban surmised, correctly, in my view, that they took the seats out because they were worried about black outs and how bad that would look.

[carverkid]

Lots of fans agree with you. Yesterday, Czaban and Pollin had some operations guy from Fed Ex Field on and they got him to admit that there are really no planned party decks but they just took out the seats because no one would buy them. He said they were offered to everyone on the "waiting list". Czaban surmised, correctly, in my view, that they took the seats out because they were worried about black outs and how bad that would look.

In short, he lied. I know several people on the wait list who were never offered seats this year. The team announced a month ago that seats were not offered to many wait list fans precisely because they would be removing so many seats. Far more likely they have hit a snag, either in design or regulatory, and bumbled the response.

[Bibby]

I was offered seats back in April when I was on the waiting list for all of two years. My thoughts originally were, "well i'll sign up now and when I get the call in five years i'll have the income to get seats." The call came much sooner than I expected. So technically I helped tear down those section of seats, wooooo!!