Commercial, Solar  -  May 14, 2021

Starbucks Commissions Community Solar Projects for New York State

The first six of up to 23 community solar projects in New York commissioned by Starbucks Coffee Company are now up and running, representing some of the first such community solar projects in the state.

The solar projects will provide more than 119,885 MWhs of energy annually to Starbucks New York stores, as well as the surrounding community. The installations are the result of a partnership between Starbucks and Generate, the provider of the systems.

Starbucks will receive the RECs associated with the projects and expects these credits to offset 70% of its energy use in the state.

The solar project will also generate clean energy for local households, small businesses, nonprofits, churches, universities and stores. Program participants will be able to receive a discount on their electricity rates under the New York State’s Community Distributed Generation program.

“At Starbucks, our vision is to become resource positive, to give more than we take from the planet. People is what this climate crisis is all about and so we must focus on the people who are disproportionally impacted by climate change,” Michael Kobori, chief sustainability officer at Starbucks, said in a statement. “That is why we go beyond simply powering our stores with green energy; we’re committed to supporting and strengthening underserved communities and using our scale for good to bring more clean power onto the grid.”

Starbucks committed $97 million of tax equity to the community solar projects through the financial services company Churchill Stateside Group. These initiatives are all part of the coffee company’s plan to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 on its path to becoming a resource-positive company.

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