PHILADELPHIA -- Science and sports collided on a Philadelphia baseball field Wednesday afternoon, but there were no black and blues – just lots of green talk.

In an effort that could influence the general population’s attitude about global warming and sustainable energy practices, the Philadelphia Phillies announced its bold green initiative, which will give a big boost to the clean, sustainable energy movement in the city, state and beyond.

Philadelphia Phillies officials, leading scientists and government officials stood inside Citizens Bank Park and unveiled the Phils' new "Red Goes Green" initiative, announcing that the organization purchased enough clean energy credits to offset their entire season of electricity use.

The decision, a leading Natural Resources Defense Council scientist said, is historic.

"Today really is, authentically, a historic moment in the environmental movement," NRDC senior scientist Dr. Allen Hershkowitz said.

To have one of the most historic teams in the most historic sport in America make such an environmentally responsible move could incite a huge cultural shift in the way everyday people think about global warming and developing clean energy practices, he said.

He called the Phillies' fan-mobilizing move a local initiative with global benefits and said he hopes people will start having intelligent conversations to change the "dangerous direction" the world is headed in.

"We’re one degree Celsius away from the world being warmer than it's been in a million years," he explained, saying it’s a tough fight because governments here and abroad subsidize fossil fuel energy, over fishing and unsustainable agriculture.

"There’s one thing we can say about baseball, it's nonpartisan," Hershkowitz said. "We can get to work implementing the important and difficult work."

The Phillies made the largest purchase of green power in professional U.S. sports history with its 20,000,000 kilowatt-hours Renewable Energy Certificates, meeting their electricity usage for 2008 at Citizens Bank Park. The team is also a part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said the purchase made the Phillies the third largest Green Power Partner -- an Environmental Protection Agency program -- in Philadelphia and seventh in the state. They are among 13 other partners to completely cover their energy usage with renewable energy purchases.

They are the first Major League Baseball team to join the agency’s partnership, and officials said the Phillies' decision will redefine the role of professional sports teams.

Hopefully, one official said, the Phillies decision will incite some competition for similar initiatives among the other 29 Major League teams.

The EPA estimates that is on par with the electricity use of more than 2,000 homes in one year.

"The Phillies have hit a grand slam for the environment," EPA administrator Stephen L. Johnson said.

The RECs purchased through Green-e Energy, based in San Francisco, carry the nation’s highest green power certification, Phillies President David Montgomery said. The power is generated from natural resources, like wind, low-impact hydro, solar and biomass, which are naturally replenished.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who just announced plans for a solar power plant in the old Naval yard, said he’s proud to be a player in the Phillies’ effort to cut down on greenhouse gases. He said he wants to make Philadelphia the No. 1 green city in America.

On The Food Front: In addition to the big renewable energy certificates purchase, the Phillies are working with Global Spectrum and Aramark to follow through on other green initiatives.

They will recycle frying oil to use as biodiesel fuel, recycle glass, plastic and cardboard used in game day preparation and sales, use carry-out trays that are 100 percent post consumer fiber, provide biodegradable cups and utensils, use plastics that are easier to recycle, and use dispensers versus individual packets.

When possible, they said they will use locally grown and organic food.

Greener Building Practices: The Phillies said they will recycle cardboard, paper, fluorescent lamps, lighting ballasts and use non-toxic cleaning products, including bio-enzyme, which eats grease stuck in kitchen pipes.

General lighting (not the huge stadium lights) will be replaced with LED lighting, which uses 80 percent less power and lasts years longer than incandescent bulbs. Rain run-off water will be used for landscaping and field irrigation.

There will also be 35 oversized, 80-gallon recyclable containers places throughout the stadium to make recycling convenient for fans.

Full-time Phillies employees, including players and coaches, will receive a one-year credit to secure clean, renewable energy for their home, the organization said.