Starbucks invests in solar for 170 Illinois stores
Starbucks has entered into a new solar power partnership to help power its stores in one of America’s largest states.
The coffee giant is partnering with Nexamp as a long-term renewable electricity purchaser, anchoring the deployment of more than 40 Megawatts of solar energy in Illinois communities. The six new community solar projects being added to Nexamp's Illinois portfolio will provide significant electricity savings to more than 1,100 local residents who subscribe within the ComEd and Ameren utility territories.
Through the Nexamp solar project, Starbucks will purchase electricity coverage for 170 Illinois stores. This builds on the 340 company-operated Illinois stores already powered by wind energy. Starbucks began buying renewable energy in 2005, achieving 100% coverage for U.S. company-operated stores in 2015.
"Starbucks is committed to our environmental promise to give more than we take, and we have a long history of renewable energy projects that bring clean energy to more communities," said Michael Kobori, chief sustainability officer at Starbucks. "We're proud to support Nexamp's efforts to bring community solar into areas where it can have the most impact and make savings opportunities available to community members."
Starbucks will only receive a portion of the renewable electricity credits for its support of Nexamp's Illinois operations. The remaining capacity on each project will be allocated to area residents and businesses through the Nexamp community solar program. Construction has begun on Nexamp's solar projects, and they are expected to come online beginning in 2025.
The Nexamp partnership is one of several recent sustainability initiatives from Starbucks. The chain recently announced a deal with Mercedes Benz to place high-powered EV chargers at more than 100 Starbucks locations nationwide. Earlier in July, Starbucks announced its participation in a city-wide returnable cup initiative in Petaluma, California.
"Community solar is a perfect way for retailers to make progress on their own sustainability goals while also playing a role in the build-out of renewable energy resources that have the ability to directly benefit their own customers,” said Nexamp CEO Zaid Ashai. “That was the case with Starbucks, which shares our vision of equitable access to community members. Climate change is one of the most important issues of the day and we can only make meaningful progress on decarbonization when companies come together to develop impactful, inclusive solutions."
Founded in Seattle in 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company operates nearly 39,000 stores worldwide.
