Walmart is making progress towards it’s goal of achieving 50% of it’s global operations being power by renewable energy by 2025. Today (June 12, 2019), Walmart has agreed to a deal with US Solar to subscribe to 36 of their community solar gardens located throughout Minnesota. One of their solar gardens has been completed with the remaining slated to be finished early 2020. In Minnesota, community solar allow public entities, residents and businesses to signup to an offsite solar garden without having it site it directly on their property.
Similarly, in October of 2018, Walmart had reached a deal to have solar systems installed at 19 stores and two distribution centers in Illinois with SunPower. The agreement is financed through a power purchase agreement (PPA) formulated by SunPower. This is allows Walmart to buy power at competitive prices and protect against future utility rate increases with no upfront costs.
Going green has a societal benefit and also with more advancements in green building technology, renewable energy tech as well it offers savings in operating a facility. In today’s volatile retail landscape as a result of e-commerce, renewable energy options can help struggling retailers to cut costs and be more profitable. Various states offer tax incentives and rebates for the use of renewable energy which also help the small businesses and struggling retailers.
What can I say? I like the move and the overall goal of Walmart of achieving 50% of their global operations to be powered by renewable energy. For commercial developers who have secured Walmart as an anchor tenant for a mixed-use project, I’m curious to see if that initiative continues or is it solely for their standalone projects.
It’s all about return on investment, and solar panels have become more affordable and tack on tax incentives and government rebates then all the more better.
Investing in a better world is always a good thing.. .
