Three New Solar Array Sites throughout Southern California-

As more businesses gravitate toward renewable energy solutions for their buildings and stores, it is really no surprise that Walmart, Inc. has hitched a ride on that train. The multi-billion dollar corporation has now announced the completion of three new solar installations in Southern California, climbing steadily up the ranks in green business. Two of the three solar developments are located in the cities of Paramount and Baldwin Park in Los Angeles County; with the third sited in the city of Highland in San Bernardino County – however, no information has been released to the public concerning the size of the installations. In a press release, Wal-Mart VP and regional general manager, Kimberly Sentovich states, “The completion of these facilities marks another important step in our drive to become more sustainable and achieve our goal of being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy… Increasing the use of solar energy is a benefit for the environment and makes business sense, as well.” As of now, ten to twenty solar installations are in the works at their various California stores, with each chain to supply at least 30 percent of its energy needs. To add, the conglomerate anticipates that its solar program in California will produce up to 32 gigawatt hours of electricity annually and will prevent over 11 tons of emissions a year from being released into the atmosphere. Taking measures to lower their carbon footprint in a few Southern California stores is definitely a step in the right direction, but it will be interesting – as well as revealing – to see how far the company actually takes their new-found environmental consciousness (for instance, an LED retrofit throughout their retail facilities could result in up to 80 percent energy savings and payback in less than eighteen months).