The Oklahoma City Thunder has become the first team in the NBA to commit to offset 100 percent of its electricity consumption with renewable wind power, following a recent agreement with Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company (OG&E).
The five-year agreement between the Thunder and OG&E provides the Thunder with renewable energy credits in its home arena on game day, as well as for the team’scorporate offices, practice facility and community events center.
OG&E Vice President Jesse Langston will present the Thunder with its Positive Energy Partnership Award during the Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs game on Thursday, April 3, in honor of NBA Green Week.
“We are thrilled to have our Thunder as a 100 percent OG&E Wind Power customer,” said Langston. “It seemed to be a natural collaboration with the club to help them contribute to the objectives of the NBA with a green power relationship. In Oklahoma, we call this a ‘wind-win’ for everyone.”
“Our partnership with OG&E has grown over the past several years, and we are excited to expand our collective efforts with this commitment to modeling green practices,” said Tony Driscoll, vice president of Business Development for the Thunder. “OG&E has been a tremendous leader in expanding the use of wind power, and we are proud to partner with them as part of our efforts to support Oklahoma’s energy future.”
The Thunder and OG&E have partnered since the team’s first season in Oklahoma City; other elements of the partnership include the OG&E Wind Power Play of the Game on the team’s FOX Sports Oklahoma broadcasts, as well as additional platforms to educate fans on wise energy use.
A subsidiary of OGE Energy Corp., OG&E serves more than 800,000 customers in a service territory spanning 30,000 square miles in Oklahoma and Western Arkansas. The company is a leading provider of renewable energy in Oklahoma, accounting for 850 MW of renewable energy representing 12 percent of the company’s total generation capacity.