ATLANTA, Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlanta Hawks fans have something to cheer about in addition to the Hawks' winning record. On Friday, the Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena signed a contract with Georgia Power to purchase enough green energy to power the arena for the entire 2012-2013 Atlanta Hawks basketball season.

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Through the partnership, the Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena purchased 751,544 kilowatt-hours- or 7,516 blocks- of green energy, enough to power the arena during all 41 home games this season. The amount of green energy purchased is enough to power 75 Georgia homes for a year. This purchase is made possible through Georgia Power's special events purchase option, which is a component of the company's Green Energy program.

"We're proud to partner with the Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena as they continue their unwavering commitment to being a leading environmental steward in the city of Atlanta," said Mike Hazelton, Georgia Power's Vice President of Marketing. "This purchase positions them as one of our top green energy special events partners."

The partnership will require additional energy from renewable resources to be added to the power grid in amounts equal to what it takes to power Philips Arena during Hawks home games. Georgia Power will use Green-e Certified energy sources to power the arena.

"The Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena are committed to protecting the livelihood of the environment through innovative methods, and Georgia Power is helping us meet our goals through their Green Energy Program," said Bob Williams, President, Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena. "Together, we continue to reduce our carbon footprint today and for the future."

The Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena have been a pioneer in the area of environmental stewardship. Philips Arena was the first professional sports and concert facility in the world to receive LEED-EB certification, establishing Philips as the model for other sports and entertainment venues to follow. This purchase of green energy underscores their commitment to going green, and further establishes the group as an energy-conscious organization. 

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates below the national average. Georgia Power serves 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.

The Atlanta Hawks, a member of the National Basketball Association since 1949, play in the Southeast Division, along with the Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards.  Tickets for all Hawks home games are on sale at www.hawks.com/tickets, the Philips Arena box office and all Ticketmaster locations, with absolutely no ticketing fees.  Purchase lower level season tickets for the 2012-13 season for less than $24 a game! For more information on the Hawks, log on to www.hawks.com.

Named for founding partner Philips, Philips Arena is consistently ranked among the top 10 concert and event venues in the world. In April 2009, Philips Arena became the first NBA arena to achieve LEED certification for an existing building as specified by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).  Philips Arena is online at www.PhilipsArena.com.

www.georgiapower.com

SOURCE Georgia Power