Wal-Mart is emerging as a major customer for renewable energy products, with a significant wind power deal announced last week.
The retail giant announced that it would purchase energy from a Duke Energy wind farm to meet about 15 percent of the power needs of its 360 Texas stores starting in April, 2009.
Duke Energy reports that its NoTrees Windpower Project will generate about 150 megawatts of electricity when fully completed later in 2009. The company also calls this one of the first deals where a major retailer has agreed to purchase power from a specific renewable energy project.
"Our customers want energy products and services that keep them competitive, yet respond to environmental concerns," said Duke Energy executive David Marks.
Wal-Mart notes that the energy savings from this project would be equal to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 25,000 cars.
This is not the only renewable energy project Wal-Mart is involved with. The company announced earlier this year that it would launch a pilot project placing solar panels on 22 of its stores in Hawaii and California, which it says will cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 10,000 metric tons a year.
