30 July 2012
Walmart's College Avenue store in San Diego, California, US, was today unveiled as the 100th California Walmart store now using rooftop solar panels to generate power. This contributes to the Walmart's broader goal of being 100% supplied by renewable energy.
Walmart's investment in solar power typically generates an average of 48 contract positions per site. By working with California-based SolarCity, Walmart's focus on solar power has generated more than 3000 contract construction jobs in California. In turn, SolarCity has hired 1213 employees since announcing its first Walmart projects in September 2010. The San Mateo, California-based SolarCity will install, manage and maintain 70 of the 100 solar power systems.
The total combined solar efforts in California are expected to:
• Generate up to 70 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean renewable energy per year, which is the equivalent of powering more than 5400 homes (according to the Environmental Protection Agency's EPA calculator)
• Avoid producing more than 21,700 metric tons of carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions per year, which is the equivalent of taking approximately 4100 cars off the road (according to the EPA calculator)
• Provide 10% to 30% of each facility's total electricity needs
There are now 100 Walmart stores and Sam's Clubs in California using traditional and thin-film solar installations. After launching its solar pilot program in May 2007, Walmart strengthened its commitment to renewable energy in the state of California last year when it announced plans to expand its solar portfolio to more than 75% of its stores in California—approximately 130 stores—by the end of 2013. Since then the company has worked with local companies to install solar technology at stores from Chico to San Diego, including:
• 43 stores in the Los Angeles area
• 17 stores in the San Francisco Bay Area
• 11 stores in San Diego
• 10 stores in Sacramento
• 6 stores in the Fresno area
• 3 stores in Chico-Redding
• 3 stores in Monterey-Salinas
• 3 stores in Palm Springs
• 2 stores in the Bakersfield area
• 2 stores in Santa Barbara
