Retail giant
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
(
WMT
) will install solar panels on 12 Walmart stores and Sam's Clubs
throughout Ohio. The installation will be done in partnership
with SolarCity, which installs, owns and maintains solar power
systems for Walmart. Once the solar projects are completed, these
12 solar panels are expected to add nearly 6,000,000 kilowatt
hours of renewable energy per year and avoid spreading more than
5,500 tons of carbon dioxide into the air. In addition, Walmart
expects to generate enough energy from these solar plants to
power more than 820 homes in OH.
Walmart also partnered with SolarCity in Sep 2011 to install
solar power panels in more than 60 stores in California, creating
solar power for 75% of its stores. Later in Apr 2012, Walmart in
agreement with SolarCity, installed 6 solar projects in Colorado
to generate nearly 3,000,000 kilowatt hours of renewable energy
per year and avoid spreading more than 5 million pounds of carbon
dioxide into the air.
Most recently, Walmart along with SunEdison, which is a
leading global solar energy services provider, has completed
solar power installations at three Wal-Mart stores in Hawaii. The
three Walmart stores of Kahului, Kailua-Kona and Kapolei will
generate more than 400,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of solar
electricity in its first year of production and eliminate 320
metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.
We believe that Walmart has got a good opportunity to expand
and accelerate its solar power initiative program. Besides
creating jobs and protecting the environment, these solar
projects have also reduced costs for local businesses by lowering
power bills.
Walmart is using new renewable technologies to achieve its
goal of supplying 100% renewable energy. We thus remain confident
that Walmart will continue to grow its solar energy program in
the U.S. and around the world.
Walmart holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Retail and wholesale
stocks that are presently doing favorable business include
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.
(
GMCR
),
Safeway Inc.
(
SWY
), and
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cotta
(
NGVC
). Green Mountain holds a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while
Safeway and Natural Grocers carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
GREEN MTN COFFE (GMCR): Free Stock Analysis
Report
NATURAL GROCERS (NGVC): Free Stock Analysis
Report
SAFEWAY INC (SWY): Free Stock Analysis Report
WAL-MART STORES (WMT): Free Stock Analysis
Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment
Research