Arena seeks to be first in the world that is net Zero Carbon certified
SEATTLE (March 3, 2021) — Today, Excelsior Energy Capital (“Excelsior”), Unico Solar Investors (“Unico Solar”), Oak View Group and the Seattle Kraken announced a partnership to equip Climate Pledge Arena with onsite solar arrays. The arrays which produce energy totaling 1.2 megawatts are a key component of the project’s commitment to becoming the first arena in the world to be net Zero Carbon certified by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), a leading non-profit organization dedicated to advancing sustainable building practices.
“Climate Pledge Arena’s commitment sets a new standard for sports and entertainment venues, and Unico is excited to be a part of this iconic project that further elevates the clean energy transition into the mainstream,” said Brett Phillips, co-founder and vice president of Unico Solar. “We look forward to delivering these innovative projects in time for the first puck drop later this fall and hope they will inspire other commercial property owners and users to capture the value of solar energy across their operations.”
The 18,100-seat multi-purpose arena located at Seattle Center is currently undergoing a full redevelopment under the historic landmark roof designed by renowned architect Paul Thiry. Solar arrays will be installed on the new Alaska Airlines Atrium and the First Avenue North parking garage, in addition to the Kraken Training Center at Northgate, where the NHL’s 32nd franchise will train.
Once installed, the solar arrays will convert light to power the arena, and Seattle’s wet climate helps keep the panels clean. The onsite systems will combine with off-site renewable energy sources to power the arena with 100% renewable energy.
“The installation of solar arrays at Climate Pledge Arena is a step toward achieving our goal to be the first net Zero Carbon certified arena in the world,” said Rob Johnson, vice president of sustainability and transportation for the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena. “They will also be a visual reminder of our commitment, as well as an education piece, for every visitor that comes to the arena.”
This installation is part of a 250 MW portfolio of commercial and industrial (“C&I”) solar projects being developed by Unico Solar and Excelsior across North America. The sites will sell clean electricity to a diversified mix of consumers, including commercial businesses, property owners, municipalities, educational institutions, entertainment facilities, utilities, and other electricity customers under long-term power purchase agreements.
Climate Pledge Arena is the home of the Kraken, the four-time WNBA world champion Seattle Storm and over 80 live music and entertainment events throughout the year.
To learn more about Unico Solar Investors, please visit unicosolar.com.
About Unico Solar Investors
Unico Solar Investors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Unico Investment Group that develops, owns, and operates solar energy systems for its own real estate portfolio and for third-party customers. Unico Solar Investors develops solar energy portfolios that provide long-term, a cyclical cash flow by selling clean energy to a diversified mix of electricity consumers that include utilities, commercial and industrial buildings, government facilities, entertainment facilities, and educational facilities, among others. For more information, visit unicosolar.com.
About Excelsior Energy Capital
Excelsior Energy Capital is a pure-play renewable energy infrastructure fund focused on long-term investments in wind and solar power plants in North America. The Excelsior management team alone brings over 70 years of combined experience and a comprehensive set of strategic, financial, legal and operational expertise; making Excelsior Energy Capital a valuable partner for developers and operators, and a trusted manager for investors. For more information, visit http://www.excelsiorcapital.com.
About Climate Pledge Arena
Climate Pledge Arena, located at Seattle Center, will be the first net Zero Carbon certified arena in the world. It will serve as a long-lasting and regular reminder of the urgent need for climate action. The Climate Pledge, which was founded by Amazon and Global Optimism in 2019, is a commitment from companies globally to be net Zero Carbon by 2040. The complete redevelopment of this historic landmark, originally built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, will be an industry first. Home to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, WNBA’s Seattle Storm, and the world’s biggest performers of live music and events, Climate Pledge Arena will open in 2021. Learn more at www.climatepledgearena.com.
About Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken are the National Hockey League’s newest franchise, set to play their inaugural season in 2021-2022 at Climate Pledge Arena at Seattle Center, developed by Oak View Group. Visit www.nhl.com/kraken for the latest news and information including press releases, multimedia content and the latest hires.
About Oak View Group (OVG)
Oak View Group (OVG) is a global sports and entertainment company founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015. OVG is focused on being a positive disruption to business as usual in the sports and live entertainment industry and currently has 8 divisions across 4 global offices (Los Angeles, New York, London, and Philadelphia). OVG is leading the redevelopment and operations of Climate Pledge Arena as well as leading arena development projects in Belmont, NY, Austin, TX, and Milan, Italy. OVG Global Partnerships, a division of OVG, is the sales and marketing arm responsible for selling across all OVG Arena Development projects.
