Environment America Research & Policy Center launched a new campaign Tuesday calling on Walmart to publicly commit to installing solar panels on the roofs of nearly all of its more than 5,000 locations across America — and over the parking lots that surround them — by 2035.
“Walmart has built its reputation on getting customers what we need, at reasonable prices. Now the company has a chance to enhance that reputation by moving to protect customers’ health and quality of life,” said Susan Rakov, chair of the 100% Renewable Energy Campaign at Environment America Research & Policy Center. “Walmart’s giant rooftops and parking lots are perfect places to generate clean renewable energy, which will not only power the stores, but also clean up the air and create an emergency power source for the surrounding community. That’s real efficiency, and a service to all — just the kind of innovation that a smart retailer like Walmart should embrace.”
Walmart is the largest retailer in the United States, and 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of one of its locations. Based on a 2016 report from Environment America Research & Policy Center, Walmart could install approximately 5,844 MW of rooftop solar capacity, which is equivalent to the power consumed by 660,000 American households per year.
In 2014, the company set a goal of installing nearly 500 on-site solar projects at U.S. Walmart stores, Sam’s Club locations and distribution centers by 2020. Through 2019, the company was the nation’s second-largest business installer of on-site solar panels, just behind Target. A commitment to put solar panels on nearly all of its stores, distribution centers and accompanying parking lots by 2035 would position Walmart as a national corporate leader in transitioning to renewable energy.
“For more than 50 years, Walmart has known that success means being ahead of the curve. When it comes to protecting the environment, Walmart can continue to be at the forefront by going big on solar,” said Bronte Payne, Environment America Research & Policy Center’s Go Solar campaign director. “This company revolutionized retail in the United States in the 20th century, and it has the opportunity to be a key player in revolutionizing how the retail sector produces and consumes energy in the 21st.”
As a part of this campaign, Environment America Research & Policy and its state affiliates will engage Walmart customers to encourage the company to commit to more solar. The group will also release a new analysis of the potential solar capacity of big box stores’ rooftops and parking lots.
“Walmart’s slogan is ‘Save Money. Live Better’ and Americans know that living better means embracing renewable energy,” Payne said. “That’s why 9 in 10 Americans support expanding solar power. Let’s put the rooftops and parking lots of these big box stores to good use so we can tap into the power of the sun near where we live, work and shop.”
News item from Environment America
I live in CA and have been trying to ask my local WM about this.
So far managers there refer me to call WM. They say
they will call back but so far nothing after several tries.
A disappointment..
Consumers hold power. Why do Americans point to the inadequacy of our government to address climate crisis- the future of our children, their surviving within the natural world that is losing its resiliency? All of climate crisis is in our hands- population, what we consume, whether we turn off the lights, how we conserve fuel, how we support reproductive freedom and whether we grow lawns that destroy biodiversity, and pollute water bodies with pesticides, whether we cut trees that change carbon dioxide to oxygen for life and hold carbon in their magnificent structures, whether we eat meat regardless . The phrase”clean energy” is often a lie that is really the destruction of forest of forest life, water and air quality and all teh blessing that theatural world gives us. The name for that is “greenwashing” for large solar utilities that require hundreds of acre of living earth. Rooftops on Walmart destroy nothing, and are the responsibility of corporations whose cheap products destroy the earth with demands for massive amounts of natural “resources.” These resources come from Earth, destroying earth or sustaining earth. We are responsible for what we choose.
Every time you shop at Walmart, notice if their goods are made in China and think on the coal fired plants that may have produced them. Google will answer so many questions, so quickly and easily. …. All these are personal choices. Everything we consume is earth related whether to support or damage. We are responsible. The “state” is a contraction for our choices. Each day ask, what more can I do to support life. Speak out. Remember the “reduce reuse recycle” guidance. Choose life. Make it a habit.
Why not the parking lot? Serious question.
Canopy solar is 2.5X as expensive to install as compared to rooftop. This is due to structure costs.