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Responsible energy use is paying off for State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
The facility’s general manager, Andy Gorchov, reports the home of the Arizona Cardinals, at 1 Cardinals Drive, saves approximately $75,000 annually since joining the Salt River Project Business Demand Response roster in March 2020.
The utility pays the 1.7 million square-foot arena to temporarily reduce energy use when an emergency threatens the stability of the power grid.
Gorchov said in an Aug. 30 news release that energy costs at the five-story, multiuse facility account for “a significant portion of annual operating expenses,” and added “participating in the demand response program was a simple, no-cost, no-risk strategy to help reduce annual energy costs.”
In conjunction with Enel X, SRP relies upon demand response business partners to temporarily reduce energy use when needed in instances of extreme summer weather, wholesale price spikes or unexpected system issues. By participating, a company earns payments without foregoing operational reliability, while helping SRP to strengthen its grid and increase sustainability efforts.
“SRP’s Business Demand Response program helps our community-based, not-for-profit utility meet increased electricity demand during the summer months in a sustainable way,” said Dan Dreiling, SRP director of Customer Programs. “The program is a key component in growing our portfolio of demand response resources.”
The 63,400-seat State Farm Stadium opened in August 2006 and had sold out all 144 Cardinals games played at the stadium prior to the COVID pandemic.
“How rare is it to have no-cost, low-cost solutions to reduce your energy consumption and costs,” Gorchov stated. “It works well (for us) to participate given the nature of the stadium’s operating hours because it doesn’t impact us during major events. The program is flexible. If an emergency is declared and you are unable to participate, you have the flexibility to make that decision on a case-by-case basis.”
State Farm Stadium hosts up to 150 events a year that range from the Fiesta Bowl to WrestleMania. Through its participation in the program, the venue curtails enough energy to support roughly 375 homes during conservation events.
During the 2022 summer season, all participants within the SRP Business Demand Response program offset the energy needs of more than 8,500 homes during conservation events.
An informational webinar will take place Wednesday, Sept. 1 for business leaders interested in learning more. To enroll, click here or email eric.chang@enel.com.
