Walmart Boosts Maryland Solar Energy With Announcement

July 4th, 2013 by Adam Johnston

Maryland is set to get a little brighter in the energy arena, thanks to Walmart and SolarCity.

Last week, the leaders in retail and solar installation in America announced 10 solar installations were completed in the state at eight Walmart‘s and two Sam’s Club stores.

Engineers checking solar panels running via Shutterstock

Around 4.1 million kWh of electricity will come from the new Maryland installations, enough to provide 5% to 20% of each store’s overall usage, the equivalent of powering 370 homes.

“In Maryland, we’ve set some of the most ambitious goals in the nation for advancing clean renewable energy and creating green jobs,” said Martin O’Malley, Governor of Maryland. “We’re helping businesses take advantage of solar incentives so they can save money while embracing the job-creating, planet-saving potential of our green economy. I commend the partnership between SolarCity and Walmart as a significant step forward toward a more sustainable future for generations to come.”

The new installations will help boost the state’s renewable energy standards goals, aiming to have 20% of its energy come from renewable resources by 2022.

“Walmart is a leader in clean energy here in Maryland and across the country,” said Lyndon Rive, CEO of SolarCIty. “Walmart is setting an example for companies in Maryland to follow; it’s possible for many Maryland businesses to pay less for solar power than they currently pay for electricity.”

Meanwhile, the recent news comes just as President Obama recently announced his climate change plan, which called for increased renewable energy investments.

Walmart CEO Mike Duke has enthusiastically backed the plan;

“We applaud the President and his administration for their commitment to renewable energy and conservation. Investing in renewable energy and energy conservation are good for business, good for communities and good for the environment. When we use less energy, that’s less energy we have to buy, and that means less waste and more savings for our customers.”

Duke also noted Walmart has over 300 renewable energy projects in progress or now in operation. In recent months, the Walmart has increased their renewable energy presence in both Hawaii and Ohio, with big solar projects.

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Tags: Maryland Renewable Energy, Maryland Renewable Energy Standard, Mike Duke, Sams Club Solar Energy, SolarCity Solar Energy, Walmart Maryland Solar Energy

About the Author

Adam Johnston Is currently studying at the School of the Environment Professional Development program in Renewable Energy from the University of Toronto. Adam graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a three-year B.A. combined major in Economics and Rhetoric, Writing & Communications. Adam also writes for Solar Love and also owns his own part time tax preparation business. His eventual goal is to be a cleantech policy analyst, and is currently sharpening his skills as a renewable energy writer. You can follow him on Twitter @adamjohnstonwpg or at www.adammjohnston.wordpress.com.

madmilker

The Walton’s own First Solar……duh..!!!

Why didn’t Wal*Mart have the balls to tell the nice people of Maryland about all those cargo ships they had commissioned years ago and the amount of pollution each of those ships produce.

and the fact Wal*Mart puts less than 5% foreign in all their stores in China which means most all those cargo ships return to China…EMPTY..!!

Those cargo ships could run on clean natural gas but the Walton’s owns a solar company and not a gas company….

They also have a port in Mexico too..!!!

and almost 20,000 vendors in China where their Global Procurement Office is located.

This article is nothing more than PR crap put out by a Retailer that makes NOTHING…..because Retail only moves currency…

and 1975 was the last year America had a trade surplus….

Martin O’Malley needs to wake his butt up and read more because sending US dollars to China sure as sh!! ain’t gonna make more jobs in Maryland nor any of the other 57….oops! 50 states in this great union.
Alex

Big deal. Every retailer of any decent size is doing this. Walmart is not special.
- Dan Hue
  
  Let’s give credit where credit is due. This is a small but noteworthy step in the right direction.
- Bob_Wallace
  
  Walmart is a major, major retailer. They passed “decent size” long ago.
  
  Plus Walmart is owned by the quite conservative Walton family. For their corporation to be praising PBO, that’s a BFD.
  - Matt
    
    It is a big deal, Walmart is all about making money. They don’t care about anything else; that is as nicely as I can say it. So anyone who thinks you can’t save by going solar is out of date.