MGM Springfield (pictured) hosted an Earth Day event Thursday, as the resort touted earning multiple certifications from the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.
In attendance at the event were US Green Building Council CEO and President Mahesh Ramanujam, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Massachusetts Gaming Commissioner Cathy Judd-Stein, and other government and community leaders.
MGM Springfield says it’s the first private sector hospitality development to earn LEED Neighborhood Development certification at the site level.
The property installed a 1.13-megawatt 3,000-panel solar array in December 2019 as part of a partnership with GE Solar, a subsidiary of Massachusetts-based General Electric. The array is designed to generate more than 1,600 megawatt hours of electricity annually, enough to power nearly 10% of the two million square-foot casino, hotel and entertainment complex.
The development also has four building-level LEED certifications, all rated LEED Gold or Platinum: the main resort, one of just a handful of LEED Platinum hotels in the world; the Armory, a LEED Platinum certified event space for concerts, meetings and comedy shows; the Springfield Chapel, a LEED Gold certified retail and dining space; and, MGM Daycare, a LEED Platinum certified Child and Family Center for local residents.
MGM Resorts Northeast Group President Chris Kelley said in a statement, “Before plans for this resort were even put to paper, MGM Resorts committed to designing and building a resort that supported environmental sustainability and positive social impact, while also honoring the history, architecture and culture of Springfield. I can say confidently that we not only delivered on that vision but pulled out all the stops to make MGM Springfield the world-class destination and responsible environmental steward that it is today.”
Mayor Sarno added: “I want to congratulate MGM Springfield president and COO Chris Kelley and his entire team on this acknowledgement and certification. This is no small feat and a great achievement for our MGM Springfield in becoming a national leader in energy and environmental design and efficiency. What MGM Springfield has achieved complements my administration's continued commitment to working with energy and environmentally effective and efficient development projects across the city, from our public schools to housing and economic development projects.”
