Walmart Plans 27 Solar Projects in Massachusetts

May 17, 2012

Walmart plans to install solar arrays on the rooftops of 27 Massachusetts stores beginning at the end of the summer, which would have a total capacity of 10.5 megawatts of energy, according to a Boston Globe report.

Walmart solar rooftop Walmart operates approximately 50 stores in Massachusettes. The photovoltaic arrays are in the engineering phase and still require permits, according to the report. Once they are up and running, which will take approximately 18 months, each solar facility will provide 10 to 15 percent of a store’s energy.

The systems will be built, owned and operated by Greenskies Renewable Energy LLC, and in turn the energy company will sell all of the energy generated by the system to Walmart. The retailer uses the Power Purchase Agreement model for all of its solar installation, opting to not directly operate the systems.

In January, Walmart completed it 100th solar energy project, and is currently close to having 120 projects completed, according to David Ozment, senior director of energy. Last September Walmart also announced plans to install solar panels on as many as 60 additional stores in California.

The company is also installing solar energy systems in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada and China, as well as other U.S. states including Arizona, Hawaii, Colorado and New Jersey.

Water Use Reductions
Select Walmart stores have also reduced outdoor irrigation water consumption by an average of 39 percent per site since deploying WeatherTRAK Smart Irrigation Controllers in 2008, both companies reported.

WeatherTRAK controllers are currently installed in 631 Walmart’s U.S. stores, which eliminate landscape water waste, harmful run-off and costly “hardscape” damage. The systems were added during new store construction and as retrofit projects. Based in Petaluma, Calif., HydroPoint, is an EPA WaterSense Partner.

Read These Related Articles:

Keywords: solar power, water conservation

« View All Articles

Guest Columns

Key Themes Emerge at FMI Sustainability Summit

Areas of focus included making the business case for sustainability, leadership development and radical collaboration.

Source: Food Marketing Institute

What's Your Sustainability Elevator Speech?

A new FMI toolkit offers concise, customizable strategic language to help executives effectively articulate the business case for sustainability in less than 60 seconds.

Source: Food Marketing Institute

On a Mission to Reduce Food Waste

FMI, GMA and the National Restaurant Association are developing an aggressive strategy that will direct more edible food to the hungry and waste away from landfills.

Source: Food Marketing Institute

See All Guest Columns »