What Walmart didn’t say about its Green Power Partnership rankings
Walmart is poised to top EPA’s Green Power Partnership rankings within a few years as renewable energy sources account for an increasing percentage of the company’s usage.
Walmart already ranks among the top three companies on four separate rankings compiled by EPA, including green power purchases among retailers, on-site generation, largest green power purchasers and green power purchases among Fortune 500 companies. The company issued a press release earlier this week touting its ranking, and what jumps out after reviewing the various lists is that Walmart achieved its high ranking based on inclusion of data from California and Texas, where green power purchases represented 28% of energy consumption.
“The green power achievements of our facilities in California and Texas support our long-term goal of being supplied by 100% renewable energy, and we will use our success in these regions as a model to expand our commitment to renewable energy throughout our operations,” said Kim Saylors-Laster. Walmart’s VP energy.
As Walmart moves closer to that goal it is easy so see how the company could eventually top all of EPA’s Green Power lists, given that it is such a large consumer of electricity. For example, Kohl’s is already where Walmart wants to be with its facilities supplied 100% by green power for a total green power purchase of 1.5 billion kilowatt hours of green power. Walmart purchased 872 million kilowatt hours to rank second on the list, based on including green power purchases for facilities in California and Texas at a 28% utilization rate. Simply expanding utilization in those two states and increasing green power purchases in other states will allow Walmart to surpass Kohl’s long before the company reaches its 100% goal.
“We’ve learned a great deal from our renewable energy programs in California, Hawaii, and Texas, and continue to explore opportunities to expand into additional states and globally,” said Greg Pool Walmart manager of renewable energy.
In California, Walmart plans to expand its solar portfolio to more than 130 rooftops, comprising 75% of its stores, by the end of 2013. The installations will provide 20% to 30% of each facility’s total electric needs and when complete generate up to 70 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy per year. In Texas, Walmart’s purchases of wind energy provide up to 15% of the total energy for more than 360 locations. The energy comes from Duke Energy wind farm in Notrees, Texas, and produces electricity at the rate of roughly 226 million kilowatt-hours each year.
To check out the EPA Green Power rankings click here.