Dive Brief:
- Meijer announced on Thursday that it has signed a renewable energy power purchase agreement with developer Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions that will remove more than 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from its operations.
- The solar energy project just broke ground in Navarro County, Texas, and is slated to be finished by the end of 2022. With the agreement, the Midwest retailer has signed onto buying a portion of the energy generated from the project for its first 15 years of operation.
- Meijer said the project with Duke Energy is the first of "multiple strategic partnerships" for the retailer to achieve its carbon reduction goal.
Dive Insight:
Meijer's announcement about the renewable energy power purchase agreement comes just weeks after the retailer pledged to cut absolute carbon emissions by 50% by 2025.
Once operational, the 1,800-acre Pisgah Ridge Solar project in Texas will generate roughly 200,000 megawatt-hours of energy for the first year dedicated to Meijer, allowing the retailer to reduce more than 103,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from its operations, according to the announcement. Meijer said that reduction is equal to the amount of greenhouse gas emissions of more than 20,000 vehicles removed from the road.
Meijer said it worked with Schneider Electric, an advisor on corporate renewable energy procurement, to select and negotiate the solar project.
"The need for organizations to take immediate action to decarbonize is at an all-time high, and we are excited to see organizations like Meijer leading the charge to include renewable energy as a part of their long-term strategy," Steve Wilhite, president of Schneider Electric's sustainability business, said in a statement.
Several grocers, including The Giant Company; Woolworths Group, which runs supermarkets in Australia; and Metro France, an international wholesaler, have turned to power purchase agreements to advance their sustainability efforts.
