Wal-Mart Launching Solar Power Pilot Program
Back in December, the word leaked out that mega-retailer Wal-Mart had issued a "request for proposals" (RFP) on adding solar arrays to selected stores. When I interviewed Andy Ruben, the company's vice-president for sustainability, the company was still quiet about this program.
Today, the cat's officially out of the bag: Wal-Mart announced that it would purchasing solar power from "BP Solar, SunEdison LLC, and PowerLight, a subsidiary of SunPower Corporation, for 22 combined Wal-Mart stores, Sam's Clubs and a distribution center in Hawaii and California."
Keep in mind that this is just a pilot program — the company wants to explore the viability of using solar power in order to meet its long-term goal of being 100% powered by renewable energy. Furthermore, the company won't be buying solar arrays, but will enter into power purchase agreements with these companies: the contractors will install the solar arrays on Wal-Mart stores, and the company will buy the power generated by those arrays. With this model, which is also being used by GM and Whole Foods, the company avoids the massive investment in new equipment. What is unique about Wal-Mart's arrangement with these companies is that the retailer will also take ownership of renewable energy credits created by the power produced.
The company estimates that the solar power installations will provide up to 30% of the energy needed at the store at which its installed. Wal-Mart also claims that this move should result in greenhouse gas emissions savings of 6,500-10,000 metric tons per year.
Those savings are impressive, no doubt, and we hope that Wal-Mart's pilot is successful enough to install solar panels on other stores. The educational value of each of these installations may prove an even bigger benefit, as many Wal-Mart and Sam's Club shoppers will get a closer look at the benefits of solar power each time they shop. No word on whether the company will actively promote the use of solar energy to shoppers at these stores, but let's hope so — there's a great opportunity to spread the word…
Reuters and PR Newswire
May 8th, 2007 at 12:28 am
It’s not only the Wal Marts of the world that are inching towards solar energy.
According to the latest research, use of photovoltaic (PV) cells in homes in the US is set to skyrocket:
Home Solar Photovoltaics To Grow Five-Fold by 2011
The information is based on an analysis of DOE data by XooxleAnswers, a research organization in Washington, DC:
The Growth of Photovoltaic Solar Energy for Home Use
I thought you and your readers might be interested to see this.
David
May 8th, 2007 at 12:48 am
Oh, definitely, David. It’s good to see a company like Wal-Mart taking such steps, though, as they can get even more homeowners interested. I can think of few better promotional tools for the solar industry than PV panels on top of Wal-Mart…
_______________________________________
Jeff McIntire-Strasburg
Senior Editor
Green Options
jeff@greenoptions.com
May 8th, 2007 at 12:49 am
this seems like a big step toward accelerating the adoption of these technologies, bringing down the costs, and making them more accessible. Heck isn’t that what Walmart does best anyway?
May 8th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
I am suprised that everyone is so accepting of WalMart since they are moving in this direction. Seems like they are getting a pass for this. Typically they would get trashed as being the big-box store that ruins the economies of small towns…but they are doing one thing right by going solar.
Next they’ll have their minions wearing hemp aprons, customers pushing balsa wood carts and carrying totes and offer Free Trade food and clothing on the racks.
Nah….not likely. Going solar will simply put more money in their corporate pockets. Thats the only reason they are doing it, it looks good to the public and helps out their bottom line.
May 8th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Ah! Suprised, you are just trying to get everyone worked up and you are not doing a very good job.
Any promotion of solar power is good, lets get this technology in practical use!
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
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March 13th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
If corporations need to be lead into alternative energy by their ‘bottom line’ than so be it. It is terribly naive to think that everyone should be going solar because it is the right thing to do. Indeed, it is a boon to the growth of alternative energy solutions if they do intrinsically speak to a variety of interests. The real danger lies with companies like Waste Management and Exxon falsely touting themselves as eco-friendly so as to profit from the trend.
May 10th, 2008 at 2:59 am
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