Wal-Mart Adds Solar To California Operations

Four recent solar projects undertaken by Wal-Mart at sites across Southern California are demonstrative of the retail giant’s push toward sustainability.

According to a recent Los Angeles Times article, solar panel installations were recently completed at store locations in Paramount, Baldwin Park, and San Bernardino. No specific information about the size of these installations is available, but a GetSolar.com post highlights how such moves dovetail with the chain’s solar plan for California, which was originally launched in 2007. Up to 20 solar installations at locations in the state are planned for the coming year, with the goal of each installation providing up to 30 percent of each store’s energy needs. Ultimately, Wal-Mart expects its California solar program to generate over 30 gigawatts of electricity each year, thereby cutting emissions by over 10,000 metric tons yearly.

Another recently completed Wal-Mart solar project in California can be found in the city of Apple Valley, where more than 5,300 solar panels cover nearly 7 acres of land. The Apple Valley site, home to a Wal-Mart distribution center, is expected to generate 1 megawatt of power, which is equivalent to the supply needed by 175 homes, according to an article about the project.

---
Chris Timmerman
Contributing Writer
Green Education Services
www.greenedu.com