Walgreens to Expand Solar Energy Installations to More Than 200 Stores
20 June 2013 - 1:30AM
Business Wire
Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG), the nation’s largest
drugstore chain, together with Chicago-based solar developer SoCore
Energy, today said they will build more than 200 new solar
installations at Walgreens drugstores throughout California,
Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. This
latest expansion will bring the number of completed solar
installations at Walgreens stores to more than 350, making the
company the leading retailer in number of solar powered stores.
“We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and leading
the retail industry in use of green technology,” said Thomas
Connolly, Walgreens vice president of facilities development.
“Because we operate more than 8,000 stores, we believe our
implementation of sustainable energy technology can have a
significant positive impact on the nation’s environment while also
creating jobs.”
The upcoming rollout will produce an estimated 13.5 million
kilowatt hours annually, the equivalent of offsetting the CO2
emissions from the electricity use of more than 1,400 homes for one
year. Included in the rollout is the Walgreens net-zero energy,
LEED Platinum store in Evanston, Ill., which will feature more than
850 roof-top solar panels.
Walgreens will host the solar arrays, and SoCore Energy will
own, operate, and maintain them. This model has proven to be
successful for the two Illinois-based companies since 2011, when
the two collaborated on a 53-store rollout across the state of
Ohio.
“SoCore is proud to be developing one of the most important and
sizeable distributed solar platforms ever constructed in the United
States,” said President and CEO of SoCore Energy Pete Kadens. “We
love working with companies that strive to be leaders, and after we
are done here, Walgreens will have more solar locations than any
other company in the US. This is a remarkable accomplishment for
both Walgreens and the team at SoCore.”
“I commend Walgreens and SoCore on this innovative partnership
and the strong commitment shown by these two Chicago companies to
renewable energy,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “These
companies are demonstrating what we in Chicago know to be true –
that environmentally friendly business is good business and that
there are real economic opportunities associated with the new
technologies and advances that are associated with the greening of
our cities.”
This unprecedented rollout is the latest of many green
initiatives for Walgreens. The company currently operates three
stores that have achieved a LEED certification level of gold,
silver and certified; a store in Oak Park, Ill., using geothermal
energy; a distribution center in Waxahachie, Texas, that generates
energy though the use of wind; and 400 locations with electric
vehicle charging stations. Walgreens drugstores use 25 watt
fluorescent lamps (lowest wattage in the industry), LED cooler and
freezer lighting and energy management systems in more than 5,000
locations. In addition, 15 Walgreens distribution centers have
achieved net zero waste, which means revenues from recycling exceed
waste expense.
“Taking care of our environment is another way Walgreens can
help people get, stay and live well in the communities we serve,”
said Menno Enters, Walgreens director of energy and sustainability.
“Walgreens will continue to strive for leadership in sustainability
to create a happier, healthier environment for our customers and
the communities we serve.”
Through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings
Challenge, Walgreens has committed to a chainwide 20 percent energy
reduction by 2020.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2012 sales
of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to become
America’s first choice for health and daily living. Each day,
Walgreens provides more than 6 million customers the most
convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and
trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and
advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy
services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and
mail service, along with respiratory services. These services
improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including
employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy
benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 8,096
drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto
Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is
the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and
wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more
than 700 locations throughout the country.
About SoCore
SoCore Energy (www.SoCoreEnergy.com) is the market leader in
solar portfolio development and commercial rooftop installations.
Focused exclusively on the solar energy needs of multisite
retailers, REITs and industrial clients, SoCore combines
engineering excellence and financial innovation to reduce the
operational and bottom-line expense of solar energy implementation,
cut energy costs and hedge against utility-rate increases.
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