Solar Means Business

Walmart and Costco are famous for cutting costs to the bone and knowing a great value when they see one. That's why they are deploying massive amounts of solar on their facilities. In fact, they are America's top two corporate users of solar power.

Many of the best-managed companies in America are among the top users of solar, and that's no coincidence. Together, the Top 20 corporate solar users will generate an estimated $1.2 billion worth of electricity over the life of these systems. No wonder then that in addition to Walmart and Costco, companies like Kohl's, IKEA, Macy's, McGraw-Hill, Johnson & Johnson, Staples, Campbell's Soup, and Walgreens are the largest corporate users of solar (in terms of on-site solar capacity deployed), according to a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association and the Vote Solar Initiative.

The Top 20 corporate solar users have installed more than 1.2 million photovoltaic (PV) panels; combined, these arrays would cover more than 544 acres of rooftops. Together, Walmart and Costco have more solar PV panels installed on their store rooftops than all of the PV panels installed in Florida, the Sunshine State. After installing 144 solar systems across seven states, Walmart now generates 65 megawatts of electricity, enough to supply all the electricity needs of 10,000 households, at facilities serving 3 million customers a week.

Altogether, U.S. commercial solar installations have reduced those business' utility bills by millions of dollars annually while generating enough electricity to power more than 390,000 homes. America's Top 20 corporate solar users are now deploying solar in northern states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts -- strong evidence that solar now makes business sense in nearly every U.S. region and climate.

 

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Comments

[sheila]

06:17 PM on 09/20/2012

Great, so the obvious next step is to incentivize rooftop solar for ALL of us using the proven spectacular policies of generous feed in tariffs, which means that all the BEST local sites are maximized (something that net metering prevents). Net metering is fine for energy hogs, but those of us who are careful with our power consumption shoud be paid fairly for producing this clean, high-value power where and when it's needed, and for saving our open spaces from those mercenaries killing our deserts for Big Solar just so they can monopolize this ubiquitous resource.

Secondly, we need PACE loans so we can install efficiency upgrades and rooftop solar withough going cash-out, repaying the loan with energy payments earned via a property tax assessment. The FHFA has stupidly crushed this program which could do more to improve property values, local income streams and jobs than all the failed programs attempted so far. Oh, and it costs nothing.

Time for Americans to side with America and fight for Energy Democracy, ie, power systems that WE own and receive a fair ROI for operating - THAT is the centerpiece of the renewable revolution.

[aligatorhardt]

09:48 AM on 09/19/2012

Congratulations to these businesses. Business leaders seldom make large investments unless they expect an economic advantage. Even if it takes 10 years to pay off solar, you still get electricity for guaranteed 25 years, and usually longer. That is 15 years and more without electric bills. Don't confuse the utility definition of grid parity with consumer grid parity. Utilities directly charge customers for fuels, so they only consider how quick they can pay off equipment. Utilities never stop charging for the electricity regardless of how soon the equipment is paid off. Solar installed at the point of use eliminates the need for new transmission lines and power transmission losses.