New Report Shows that Wal-Mart Has More Solar Capacity than 38 U.S. States
According to the Solar Means Business 2013 report produced by the Solar Energy Industries Association, companies all over America, including some of the most recognizable brands, are implementing solar energy projects at an unprecedented rate. The report concluded that the 10 businesses with the greatest solar capacity in the U.S. are Wal-Mart, Costco, Kohl’s, Apple, IKEA, Macy’s, Johnson & Johnson, McGraw Hill, Staples and Campbell’s. The solar capacity is measured by the power potential of on-site photovoltaic (PV) projects.
Leading the way, Wal-Mart’s solar capacity of 89.43 MW surpasses the capacities of 38 U.S. states, according to data released by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. As the price of PV systems decreases, solar energy is becoming increasingly lucrative. The average price of a completed commercial PV project has dropped by 30 percent since the beginning of 2011, encouraging more companies to invest in solar energy.
The report claims that the 25 companies with the highest total solar capacity have collectively deployed more than 445 MW, which is enough to power over 73,000 homes. As of mid-2013, cumulative commercial solar power in the U.S. has already increased 40 percent from last year’s solar capacity.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s “Open PV Project” report ranks the states by total number of PV projects, the average cost of solar energy per kilowatt, and total solar capacity. The five states with the greatest solar capacity are California, New Jersey, Arizona, Massachusetts and Nevada.
The Chanler Group is actively engaged in the review and analysis of incentive-based .renewable energy programs to determine potential benefits to our clients. Global energy consumption continues to increase each year and, with this increase, the demand for safe, clean, and unlimited energy is on the rise. The Federal and State governments promote this interest through a variety of financially-beneficial incentives. Our understanding of these laws allows us to guide homeowners, businesses, and/or developers through the various ways to take advantage of these incentive-based benefits. With the appreciation that renewable energy laws and regulations are constantly changing, The Chanler Group is committed to investing in its understanding and practice of this area of law.