Wal-Mart's Solar Dream
by EcoGeek.org on 12.31.06
Wal-Mart has put out a request for proposals (RFP) to several large solar outfits. Apparently the request is fairly confidential, but Joel Makower seems to have seen the RFP and is making some comments about it over at his blog.
All that is certain is that Wal-Mart seems serious about the possibility, and that solar installers are right now scrambling to put together what could easily be the biggest private solar project in history.
We recently wrote about Google's gigantic solar installation, Makower crunches some quick numbers based on the RFP and some stats from unnamed sources, and says that this could easily by fifty times bigger than Google's 1.6 megawatt installation. The Wal-Mart project could more than 300 kilowatts of panels on over 300 stores thus providing Wal-Mart with more than 100 megawatts of solar power.
As everyone who's ever flown can attest, Wal-Marts have some pretty big roofs, and some Wal-Marts are in pretty sunny places with pretty large solar subsidies. The five states that Wal-Mart is investigating, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, and New Jersey, all fit those criteria.
Of course, this is just an RFP. The proposals could come back and Wal-Mart's eyes could bug-out at the prices. They might launch a small pilot program, like so many other large corporations. But if Wal-Mart really wants to meet its goal of decreasing greenhouse emissions by 30% in the next three years, making big expensive decisions like this is going to be absolutely necessary.
This is outstanding. If only Wal-Mart would team up with Home Depot or Lowes (make it a competition) to double or triple the size of this.
I think Wal-Mart sees the future revenue potential in the various carbon trading markets that will be sprouting up. Not only do they get free electricity, they'll be able to trade huge amounts of carbon credits. Nothing wrong with making a buck while still doing the right thing.
Now if they could only invest in those giant kite sails for the container ships from China, that would make a serious dent in the carbon footprint of Wal-Mart products.
Their motivation for solar power is pure image improvement. Wal-Mart is a bad, bad company and ruining small business in America.
and maybe they can take the money they eventually save on electricity and pay their employees living wages.
Wow. All they have to do now is stop destroying traditional town centers and making a living as a sprawl based economic parasite!
Lol, this just seems rediculous to me, It is infact a decent idea, but its not like the sun shines 24/7/365. Water Powered turbine energy would seem like a good way. Or maybe im overlooking somthing.
Its a myth that Solar is only good in the daytime. There are batteries that store Solar energy for use at night, or store a weeks worth to use gradually.
Some of the comments on this are just plain terrible!!! It is agreed upon that Walmart is not the best company as far as workers rights but its take on cutting its power consumption is wonderful. No matter how small the impact every little bit MATTERS!! Maybe some of us are missing the "global" picture. I myself don't frequent Walmart but I would sure reconsider if they pull this off.
Our local Walmart recently expanded to a "Super" Walmart - In doing so, the included huge skylights - this seems to be a building trend lately - during the day, half the lights are left off, saving a good bit of electricity (and money). I noted the same thing at the new wing in the local airport.
home depot recently turned down my company's offer to install solar panels at no up front cost and sell the electricity at half the market rate - they replied saying they are not interested in solar, wind, or any other power generation at their retail store locations