Could a trend soon become the norm? That’s a question that many companies are answering as they begin their transition to renewable energy. Amazon is the latest company to utilize solar power with a 19-acre rooftop system on their newest fulfillment center in Colorado. Clocking in at 17,280 panels and a capacity to generate 6.05 megawatts (MW) of power, it’s expected to begin producing electricity in November.
Amazon isn’t alone in the venture to implement renewable energy. In 2017, Anheuser-Busch announced a shift toward 100% wind and solar energy for its 12 craft subsidiaries by 2020. Inspired by both Elysian and Goose Island brewery’s composting, Anheuser-Busch wanted to take it a step further with renewable energy.
IKEA, a company already known for its efficiency and minimalistic ways, offsets 317% of its total energy use with renewable energy commitments. IKEA also installed a large solar system on one of its retail locations in Seattle. Another company championing for renewable energy use is Kohl’s, generating 1,430,381,349 kWh with solar and wind power and offsetting 109% of the company’s energy use.
Aside from the larger corporations installing solar systems at a high frequency, Organic Valley and Clif Bar are taking the initiative to do things their own way. Organic Valley is taking steps to build the largest solar array in Wisconsin through a community solar partnership, and Clif Bar is constructing the largest pv-array in Idaho. Both companies aim to simply benefit the communities that they do business in.
With renewable energy becoming so ever-so-prevalent, it’s exciting to see who will be the next to be the change. We’re living in a time where being environmentally-conscious is top-of-mind and it is certainly refreshing to see large corporations and smaller companies rise to the challenge.
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