Expanding solar power at Walmart stores
The sun is an incredible source of not just heat and light but also clean energy. Walmart’s commitment to sustainability includes finding more ways to use renewable energy in our stores, clubs and distribution centers. As such, we are excited to expand our solar power program in Arizona, California and Puerto Rico. Soon, thin-film will find itself on the rooftops of 15 to 20 of our sites in Arizona and California. Several of these have already been successfully installed. Once complete, the combined solar arrays will: - Produce up to 22.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean energy per year, enough to power more than 1,750 homes annually*
- Avoid producing more than 11,650 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, equal to removing more than 3,000 vehicles from the road for a year*
- Supply up to 20 percent to 30 percent of the total energy needs for each location.
Using solar power is helping us reach our goal to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy. It also makes tremendous business sense, especially in these economic conditions. Thanks to Governor Schwarzenegger’s leadership, California is an excellent state for us to expand our use of renewable energy and thus create more green jobs. In addition to the 500 green jobs the installations will create or support in ARizona and California, these projects support additional jobs at facilities in California and Ohio, where the majority of the thin-film panels are manufactured.
* According to the EPA (http://www.epa.gov/solar/energy-resources/calculator.html)
Clean Energy Resources for Walmart de Mexico Since April 1, 2010, Electrica del Valle de Mexico has supplied energy to 348 of our units in Mexico City, the state of Mexico and Morelos state via a state-of-the-art wind farm. This clean energy resource provides 17 percent of the energy needs of Walmart de Mexico and is expected to reduce CO2 emmisions by 137,240 tons per year.* *In Mexico, there is no market for Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) associated with our wind and solar purchases, and the electricity supplier has retained ownership of the Certified Emission Reduction credits (CERs). As the global renewable energy CER and REC markets evolve, Walmart continues to examine issues surrounding the retention, sale and purchase of non-power attributes of renewable energy across our global markets to better understand and implement best-in-class, conservative approaches that not only have environmental integrity, but also speed the scalability of emerging clean technologies globally, such as wind and solar. We are proud to partner with the World Resources Institute on this endeavor.
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