Commercial, Solar, Sourcing Renewables  -  October 19, 2016

Target overtakes Wal-Mart as top solar installer

Photo (provided by SEIA): One of Target's rooftop solar installations. 

Target Corp. has grabbed the top spot among American businesses that are going solar, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association's latest annual rankings. 

Target added more solar generation this year than any other U.S. retailer, according to SEIA's 2016 Solar Means Business report, released Oct. 19. The company now has 147.5 MW of installed solar capacity, according to SEIA; it is the first time Target topped the rankings in the report's five-year history.

"At Target, sustainability is a principle that drives the decisions we make across the company – from the products we make to the way we run our business," John Leisen, vice president of property management at Target said in a statement. "We're incredibly proud of the progress we've made in improving building efficiencies and reducing environmental impact. Our commitment to installing solar panels on 500 stores and distribution centers by 2020 is evidence of that progress."  

Other companies recognized in SEIA's top 10 for their amount of solar capacity and number of solar installations include previous perennial champion Wal-Mart Stores Inc., with 145 MW, Prologis Inc., with 107.8 MW, Apple Inc., with 93.9 MW, Costco Wholesale Corp. , with 50.7 MW, Kohl's Corp., with 50.2 MW, IKEA, with 44 MW, Macy's Inc., with 38.9 MW, General Growth Properties Inc. with 30.2 MW and Hartz Mountain Industries Inc. with 22.7 MW.

"These blue-chip companies are proof that sustainability and profitability is not an either-or proposition," SEIA interim President Tom Kimbis said in a news release announcing the report. "Investing in solar is a common-sense decision that pays dividends for both the environment and companies' bottom lines and these leaders deserve a big round of applause." 

The full report is available here, in the Smart Energy Decisions research center. 

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