According to the company, it now plans to add photovoltaic panels to as many as 20 more facilities over the next 18 months. Combining its projected energy output with that of the solar arrays it currently operates at 18 sites in California, Wal-Mart said it will generate enough electricity to power 2,600 homes while saving annual emissions equivalent to 4,000 cars.
"Increasing the use of solar energy is the right thing to do for the environment and makes tremendous business sense, especially in these economic conditions," said Kimberly Sentovich of Wal-Mart, going on to credit governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for his own role in promoting solar power in California.
The company indicated that it is also in the process of examining the feasibility of adding solar features to other sites, noting that solar roof projects and similar things are also now underway at company facilities in Mexico and Puerto Rico.
The company has also been purchasing wind-generated energy for some of its Texas stores.
