Inland Valley Bulletin (CA)
Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer
Article Created: 06/03/2008 08:53:42 PM PDT
CHINO - Energy companies, with the help of lawmakers and retailers, are increasingly moving toward green energy in the state. Wal-Mart in Chino has joined 22 of the chain's stores in California and Hawaii in the use of solar energy.
BP Solar began work to install solar panels on the store's roof in October and announced the completion last week of the 591.6-kilowatt solar power system. The system consists of more than 3,400 solar modules to provide about 18percent of the store's electricity.
The move is part of a statewide trend of businesses putting their roofs to use.
"This goes back to Wal-Mart's sustainability goals," said store spokeswoman Tiffanny Moffatt. "We believe that being a profitable and efficient business goes hand in hand with being a good steward of the environment."
Moffatt said Wal-Mart's larger goal is that of being supplied by 100 percent renewable energy in the future, although she said the company had no specific target date for that goal.
The project is a partnership between Wal-Mart and BP Solar. Under the agreement, Wal-Mart will purchase the energy produced by the solar power systems which BP Solar will operate and maintain.
The Chino store is part of Wal-Mart's major purchase of solar power from BP Solar and other solar power providers for 22 Wal-Mart stores, Sam's Clubs and distribution centers in Hawaii and California.
"We're almost halfway through our commitment to supply Wal-Mart with over four megawatts of installed solar electricity," said Geoff Slevin, vice president of sales and marketing for BP Solar. Sam's Club in Chino became the first of seven Wal-Mart properties in California to use the solar panels last February through the SunPower energy company.
Wal-Mart officials said the move will reduce greenhouse emissions by 6,500 metric tons per year to 10,000.
"The partnership between Wal-Mart and BP Solar will maximize the use of renewable energy by Wal-Mart's Supercenter and is the model for other Chino businesses to follow," said Mayor Dennis Yates.
Wal-mart isn't the only business in Southern California turning its rooftops into energy sources.
The governor in March joined Southern California Edison and local lawmakers in Fontana to announce the proposed installation of solar power panelling on 65million square feet of industrial rooftops in Southern California.
Officials hope the project will help the state achieve its aim of using 20percent renewable energy by 2010, and would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. When complete, the solar energy panels will generate 250 megawatts of energy, said Gil Alexander, spokesman for Southern California Edison.
The first solar installation for the state project will take place next month on the roof of a 600,000-square-foot distribution warehouse in Fontana owned by ProLogis, which manages and develops distribution facilities throughout the world, Alexander said. When complete in August, the solar panels above the Fontana warehouse will generate a continuous 2 megawatts of energy at any given time.
"The Fontana roof is enough power to meet all of the needs of 1,300 average Inland Empire homes," Alexander said. "Just that one roof. It's a lot of power."
neil.nisperos@inlandnewspapers.com
(909) 483-9356
When the new Wal-Mart Supercenter opened in Columbia earlier this fall, it provided job opportunities for more than 200 people...
