GHG Emissions, Industrial, Solar  -  June 27, 2024

Wendy’s Restaurants Adopt Solar, REC

Over 130 Wendy’s company and franchise locations are enrolled in community solar and renewable energy certificates (RECs).

A partnership with Ampion, a community solar provider, brings over 27 million kWh of renewable energy to local grids in New York, Illinois and Massachusetts.

Through Ampion+, Wendy’s will access renewable energy certificates (RECs) that are Green-e® Energy certified to meet environmental and consumer protection standards in North America.

The enrolled restaurants will source between 30% and 100% of their energy from solar without the need to install solar panels onsite. Wendy’s plans to increase the number of restaurants enrolled in community solar through Ampion as additional solar generation capacity comes online and more franchise restaurants enroll in the program. Participation in such community solar projects helps generate and supply renewable electricity to local utility grids, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

“We are excited about the opportunity this partnership provides our Company and franchise restaurant operators by making it easier and more accessible to source clean energy while ultimately realizing cost savings,” said Steven Derwoed, Vice President, Global Design & Construction at Wendy’s, in a statement. “We are advancing progress toward our emissions reduction goals through community solar participation and RECs. It’s a win-win for the Company and our franchisees.”

In 2023, Wendy’s set near-term science-based targets to lower absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 47% and Scope 3 emissions from franchisees by 47% per restaurant by 2030, both from a 2019 baseline.

Sourcing renewable energy is a key focus area for Wendy’s in achieving these emissions reduction goals.