BASEBALL AND SUNSHINE—NOTHING BETTER

Major League Baseball, the sport that led American society across the barriers of racial prejudice, is once again leading the way, this time in the fight to raise awareness of global warming and what has to be done about it. Baseball has always had solar energy. Now its time to spread the sunshine.

San Francisco Giants and PG&E Cut Ribbon on AT&T Park Solar Installation
June 29, 2007 (PR Newswire via Yahoo Finance)

WHO
The San Francisco Giants, Peter Magowan, president/managing partner; Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Tom King, CEO; Gavin Newsom, Mayor, City and County of San Francisco.
A home run.

WHAT
The first solar energy system since Willie Mays is now in operation at the home stadium of the San Francisco Giants.

WHEN
Will be connected to the grid during the July 10 All-Star Game week-long festivities.

WHERE
San Francisco’s AT & T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants

WHY
- System: 590 Sharp solar panels, generates 122 kilowatts at peak function. Distributed in 3 areas of the park: Port Walk along McCovey Cove, on the new canopy over the Willie Mays pedestrian ramp, on the Giants Building roof.
- AT&T Park was designed to be an energy efficient facility: fluorescent lighting, motion sensor lighting and energy management systems. The new Diamond Vision scoreboard uses 78% less energy.
- PG&E has committed $7.5 million to solar installations in SF, $5 million to projects like AT&T Park that generate power for all customers, pending California Public Utilities Commission approval. The other $2.5 million will go to solar systems for non-profit organizations and schools.
It's outta here!

QUOTES
- Magowan: "The solar installation at AT&T Park is a milestone for all major U.S. sporting venues…Through this partnership, we hope to raise awareness about the importance of using energy wisely and efficiently and about the need to develop and utilize renewable energy sources."
- Newsom: "Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and protecting our environment requires bold leadership and vision…We applaud the Giants and PG&E for their commitment to solar energy and for their long-term focus on helping to make San Francisco the greenest city in the nation."
- King: "The completion of the AT&T Park solar installation reflects our shared vision with the Giants to make San Francisco the greenest city in the nation…PG&E is committed to exploring innovative solutions, like solar, wave and tidal power, to increase the amount of renewable energy that we bring the City and County of San Francisco and all of the communities we serve."

In a related story, Cleveland's Jacobs field has also installed a smaller system of solar panels to run its TV screens.