RBC Heritage Goes Green in 2012

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC – The RBC Heritage Golf Tournament has committed to operate its upcoming PGA TOUR event with 100 percent Green Power, distributed by Palmetto Electric Cooperative and generated by state-owned Santee Cooper.

RBC Heritage will purchase Green Power from Palmetto Electric Cooperative for the duration of the 2012 tournament, which plays April 9-15, 2012 at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island.

Santee Cooper generates its Green Power from clean, renewable energy sources including landfill biogas, solar power and wind power within South Carolina. In fact, Santee Cooper is the only utility generating Green Power in South Carolina, and Palmetto Electric Cooperative was one of the first cooperatives in the state to offer Green Power to its customers, back in 2001.

In addition to purchasing Green Power for this event, RBC Heritage has dedicated space for a Green Power booth on the 18th fairway to educate spectators about renewable energy benefits. South Carolina residents who visit the booth will also be able to sign up to purchase Green Power for their own electric needs.

“We are proud to say this is the fourth year we have used green energy.  As South Carolina’s most significant sporting event, we believe it is the right thing to do. We love to say that our greens are green in more ways than one!” said Steve Wilmot, Tournament Director for the RBC Heritage.

“We are pleased to continue partnering with Santee Cooper to provide Green Power to the RBC Heritage” said Tom Upshaw, president and CEO of Palmetto Electric Cooperative.  “The tournament provides us with a great opportunity to promote the development of new and expanded renewable energy in South Carolina.  Palmetto Electric is proud to be the largest electric cooperative provider of Green Power in this state.”

“Our strong partnership with Palmetto Electric Cooperative makes this Green Power event possible. The RBC Heritage Golf Tournament is a showcase event for South Carolina, its economic development opportunities and its environmental attributes. Having the power come from clean renewable energy is a perfect fit for one of the most beautiful and prestigious golf tournaments in the country,” said Lonnie Carter, president and CEO of Santee Cooper.

Santee Cooper began generating renewable Green Power when it opened the Horry County Landfill Generating Station, which produces electricity from methane gas created by naturally decomposing garbage. Now producing more than 28 megawatts of Green Power, Santee Cooper has five landfill biogas stations in commercial operation. It also has solar arrays generating power for the grid, 20 demonstration solar projects at middle schools around the state, and wind power projects.

Customers of Santee Cooper and the state’s electric cooperatives can purchase Green Power each month through their electric bills. For just two dimes a day, Green Power has the environmental impact of:

• Not driving a car for almost three months
• Planting over one-third acre of trees for a year
  (Source: EPA: e-Grid SERC Subregion System Average)

About RBC Heritage
RBC Heritage is the only PGA TOUR event in South Carolina.  Played over the Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island since 1969, the event is celebrating its 44th year April 9-15, 2012.  The Heritage Classic Foundation, general tournament sponsor, distributes the proceeds from the tournament to hundreds of non-profit organizations. Since it was founded as a 501 (c)(3) in 1987, the Foundation has donated more than $22 million to people in need.  For information on how to Get Your Plaid On, call 843.671.2448, visit rbcheritage.com or Facebook (Heritage Classic Foundation, William Willie Innes) and Twitter (@WillieHeritage).