Walmart Enters into 46 Power Purchase Agreements to Supply Power to Stores in 5 States

Walmart has entered into agreement on 46 power purchase agreements (PPAs) to provide solar power at the retailer’s operations in five states.The retailer partnered with C2 Energy Capital, LLC for the PPAs. These agreements are part of the Walmart’s goal to have 50% of its operations powered by renewable energy by 2025. The solar installations will produce more than 65,000,000 kWh of renewable energy annually and are expected to supply approximately 10-60% of each stores’ overall electricity use.

“Solar is a vital component of Walmart’s expanding renewable energy portfolio,” said Mark Vanderhelm, vice president of energy for Walmart Inc.

This commercial solar deal comes one year after Walmart chose C2 Energy Capital to install 13 solar projects in South Carolina, some of the first projects to take advantage of solar incentives in the state. The rooftop projects are all currently in operation, with the exception of a ground-mount project that is underway at a Walmart distribution center in Laurens, SC.

Earlier this month, Walmart released its inaugural Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, which details the company’s goals, progress and achievements for fiscal year 2019 toward its commitment to increase economic opportunity for associates and local communities, build sustainability in supply chains and activate climate change initiatives.

Walmart is disclosing progress to date in several areas including:

Activating Climate Change Initiatives

• Climate Change Impact Scenario Analysis: Walmart worked with an independent third-party consultant to better understand the nature of climate change and potential implications for the retail sector aiming to align with the scenario guidance set forth by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.
• Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Walmart reports a 6.1% reduction in Scopes 1 and 2 annual greenhouse gas emissions in 2017 compared with 2015.
• Project Gigaton: Walmart made advancements on its Project Gigaton goals with suppliers reporting avoiding more than 93 million metric tons of emissions over the last two years. Launched in 2017, Project Gigaton is a global effort that invites suppliers to join Walmart in a commitment to avoid 1 billion metric tons of emissions in the company’s collective value chains by 2030.
• Using Renewable Energy: As part of Walmart’s goal of being supplied by 50% renewable energy by 2025, 28% of Walmart’s electricity needs are supplied by renewable sources.
• Mitigating Waste: In 2018 in the US, Walmart diverted 81% of unsold products, packaging and other waste materials from landfills. Walmart also recycled more than 430 million pounds of plastic film and rigid plastics globally.