23 August 2011
GDF Suez Energy Resources NA, a retail electric provider in the US, announced today that it will donate 2000 renewable energy certificates (RECs) to the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to offset 100% of the projected energy consumption at the 2011 US Open to be held from 26 August through 11 September 2011 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow, Corona Park in Flushing, New York.
The USTA is the national governing body for tennis in the US.
Each REC represents the environmental attributes of electricity generated from wind, solar or other Green-e certified renewable power facilities. Organisations may use the certificates to offset their indirect greenhouse gas emissions and help support the operation and development of domestic sources of cleaner, renewable energy. Green-e is an independent certification and verification program for renewable energy and greenhouse gas emission reductions in the retail market.
The US Open grew out of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the US National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881. Since 1987, the US Open has been the fourth and final major tennis tournament comprising the Grand Slam each year, following the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon.
