Leading US companies make big investments in solar energy

WASHINGTON, USA: The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Vote Solar Initiative (Vote Solar) released the annual Solar Means Business report, identifying major commercial solar projects and ranking America’s top corporate solar users.

The report found that Walmart remains America’s commercial solar leader with 89 megawatts (MW) at 215 locations. The Top 25 companies, ranked by installed capacity, are Walmart, Costco, Kohl’s, Apple, IKEA, Macy’s, Johnson & Johnson, McGraw Hill, Staples, Campbell’s Soup, U.S. Foods, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kaiser Permanente, Volkswagen, Walgreens, Target, Safeway, FedEx, Intel, L’OREAL, General Motors, Toys “R” Us, White Rose Foods, Toyota, and Dow Jones & Company.

Combined, these top 25 companies have deployed 445 megawatts of solar capacity, a 48 percent increase from one year ago.

“The list of companies moving to clean, affordable solar energy reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of the most successful corporations in America,” said SEIA president and CEO, Rhone Resch.

“These iconic brands are leading the way when it comes to efforts to reduce our nation’s dangerous dependence on foreign energy sources. They’re also helping to create thousands of American jobs, boost the US economy and improve our environment.  At the same time, they’re reducing operating expenses, which benefits both their customers and shareholders.”

"For years, the promise of solar was always 'just around the corner.'  Well, solar has turned the corner, and found itself on Main Street, USA.  These companies – titans of American business – may have vastly different products, business models, and geographic locations, but they all have something in common: they know a good deal when they see one, and they are going solar in a big way," said Adam Browning, executive director of Vote Solar.

“We are pleased with the progress we have made towards installing solar panels atop nearly 90 percent of our U.S. locations,” said Mike Ward, president, IKEA US.

“We appreciate the Solar Energy Industries Association and the Vote Solar Initiative for acknowledging our commitment to sustainability as represented by our investment in solar photovoltaic technology. We are honored to be recognized for helping contribute to the development, expansion and promotion of the US solar industry as we work toward our goal of using 100 percent renewable energy in our operations.”

“As we work toward our ambitious goal to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, solar energy continues to be an important part of our renewable energy portfolio,” said Kim Saylors-Laster, VP for energy, Walmart. “With our size and scale, Walmart is in a unique position to encourage innovation and accelerate the adoption of cost-effective, clean energy alternatives, including solar power.”

Ken Bonning, Kohl’s senior executive VP, said: “As one of the largest hosts of solar electricity generation in North America, Kohl’s continues to make solar and the use and support of green power key components of our sustainable operations strategy. Solar also plays an important role in our goal to achieve carbon neutrality through 2015. Across all of our sustainability initiatives – from renewable energy and designing energy-efficient buildings to supply chain collaboration and waste reduction – we are demonstrating our commitment to being an environmentally responsible retailer and setting a positive example in the communities we serve.”

"Solar energy has played a significant role supporting our corporate goal of promoting the use of 125 megawatts of renewable energy by 2020," said Rob Threlkeld, General Motors manager of renewable energy. "Thanks to organizations, like SEIA, that tout the fiscal and environmental benefits of a solar program, we've seen many companies roll a solar strategy into their business, which is a benefit to everyone."

Solar Means Business also ranks the Top 25 companies by number of solar energy systems, the Top 5 companies in the food services, health and beauty and automobile sectors and the Top 10 retail companies.

Like these companies, America Supports Solar. From coast to coast, solar is creating jobs, saving money and decreasing our reliance on outside energy sources. In total, the companies analyzed for this report have deployed systems in 30 states and Puerto Rico. View map.

Solar growth among these leading businesses reflects the growth in the US commercial solar sector as a whole. As of Q2 2013, the cumulative commercial solar deployment totaled 3,380 MW and was located at more than 32,800 facilities throughout the country, representing an increase of over 40 percent from last year.