Walmart: the next clean energy giant?
The retail giant Walmart currently has 89 megawatts of solar power at 215 locations and in 2012, Walmart reached a goal of a 20 percent reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions.
A view shows the Walmart logo at a Walmart store in North Bergan, N.J. Walmart currently has 89 megawatts of solar power at 215 locations.
Eric Thayer/Reuters/File
Walmart is attempting to position itself as the key mover and shaker in the renewable energy sector, and indeed, when Walmart makes a clean energy move it reverberates through the market.
Walmart鈥檚 status as a leading company in terms of renewable energy adoption was furthered on 15 October with the release of the聽, which noted that Walmart remains America鈥檚 commercial solar leader, followed by Costco, Kohl鈥檚, Apple, IKEA, Macy鈥檚, and聽 Johnson & Johnson鈥攁ll in the top 25.
Walmart currently has 89 megawatts of solar power at 215 locations. 聽(Related article:聽)
"As we work toward our ambitious goal to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, solar energy continues to be an important part of our renewable energy portfolio," Kim Saylors-Laster, vice president for energy at Walmart, said in a statement. "With our size and scale, Walmart is in a unique position to encourage innovation and accelerate the adoption of cost-effective, clean energy alternatives, including solar power."聽
By 2020, Walmart wants to procure 7 billion kWh of renewable energy--the equivalent of powering 620,000 average American homes for a year.
Some will go as far as to say that Walmart is the key driver of the renewable energy industry.
鈥淓very time Walmart makes a green commitment, it has reverberations throughout entire industry sectors. That's just what happens when you're the world's largest corporation. And that's why Walmart's work in renewable energy could have a major impact,鈥� writes the聽聽(Related article:聽)
Since Walmart first announced its ambitious sustainability goals back in 2005, it has reached several milestones that keep it in the limelight for renewable energy followers. Not only do those goals include powering its operations 100% through renewable energy, they also include creating zero waste and selling environmentally sustainable products.
In 2012, Walmart reached a goal of a 20% reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions.
As for solar, Walmart鈥檚 status as the American leader has come about in partnership with聽, which handles the majority of Walmart鈥檚 solar installations.
Walmart plans to install solar systems in 6,000 more stores over the next six year.
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