OKLAHOMA CITY, May 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The ASA/USA Softball Hall of Fame Museum and
four-field complex has become the first softball venue and
predominately women's athletic venue in the country to earn the EPA
Green Power Partnership with their commitment 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 10-year agreement between ASA/USA Softball and OG&E provides the ASA
Hall of Fame complex with renewable energy credits for its OGE
Energy Field, ancillary fields, museum and administrative
offices. This encompasses the new improvements with the
completion of the first phase of its multi-million dollar
renovation.
OG&E Vice President Jesse
Langston will present Craig
Cress, executive director of the ASA/USA Softball with the company's Positive
Energy Partnership Award during the evening session of the NCAA
Women's College World Series on Thursday,
May 28.
"We are thrilled to have ASA/USA Softball as a 100 percent OG&E Wind
Power customer," said Langston. "It is a natural collaboration with
this organization as we pursue our Green Field initiative which
will help distinguish the complex as a destination for sustainable
practices and education of their fans for using energy wisely. We
congratulate them on achieving the EPA Green Power Partner
recognition and joining a list of prestigious sports venues around
the country. In Oklahoma, we call this a 'wind-win' for
everyone."
"Our partnership with OG&E has a bright future as we are
collaborating on improvements in lighting, energy management and
the fan experience. As the first OG&E "Green Field" venue
we are excited to expand our collective efforts with this
commitment to modeling green practices," Cress said. "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 and
cultivate an educational environment for our fans, players and
industry."
"The EPA is excited to welcome ASA/USA Softball as a Green Power Partner and
applauds their purchase of green power and its support of the
voluntary renewable energy market," said James Critchfield, Program Director of EPA's
Green Power Partnership. "ASA/USA
Softball is helping to reduce harmful air pollution and
demonstrating that using green power is smart for the
environment."
ASA/USA Softball and OG&E
have partnered to create a state-of-the-art electric technology
venue, an outcome of the 20-year agreement formed last year between
OGE Energy Corp. and Oklahoma City All Sports Association to
support the venue improvements required to retain the NCAA WCWS.
Other elements of the partnership include the stadium field name,
now called OGE Energy Field, as well as adding a platform to
educate fans and OG&E customers on wise energy use for
residential and commercial application.
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 approximately 10 percent of the company's
total generation capability.
Annually, the ASA Hall of Fame Complex plays host to a wide
variety of softball events, including the nation's No. 1 collegiate
contest, the NCAA Women's College World Series (WCWS), which
annually draws more than 70,000 spectators. In addition, the
complex hosts several ASA youth and adult championships as well as
international and high school championships. ASA/USA Softball serves as the National Governing
Body of Softball in the United
States as recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
OG&E web site: www.oge.com
OG&E Twitter: @OGandE
OG&E Facebook: www.facebook.com/ogepower
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oge-and-asausa-softball-team-up-for-a-wind-win-300090247.html
SOURCE OGE Energy Corp.