The new solar systems cumulatively will reduce more than 47.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over the next 20 years, which is comparable to planting 25,711 trees.
Menno Enters, director of Energy and Sustainability at Walgreens, said, “SolarCity is helping us contribute to the health of the local communities we operate in by providing us with clean energy as well as contributing to the local economy in Colorado.”
Walgreens and SolarCity celebrated the completion of the first in a series of solar installations at the retail store on Smoky Hill Road in the City of Aurora.
Walgreens is ranked as the second leading retailer in the U.S. in utilization of renewable energy at its stores, according to Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
Walgreens began implementing solar in 2007 at many of its retail stores across the country. The new rollout in Colorado brings Walgreens closer to reaching the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Buildings Challenge.
The company has committed to reducing its energy use by 20 percent by the year 2020 across 125 million sq. feet of its retail floor space.
Eric Wittenberg, SolarCity’s regional vice president in Colorado, said, “The adoption of solar by companies like Walgreens also has an economic impact in the community as it drives the growth of local jobs. Since we launched our services in Colorado in 2009, our two local operations centers in Denver and Parker now employ more than 180 people.”