Staples Inc announced that it has produced 15 million kilowatt hours from 32 solar installations throughout North America. The partnership program, which launched in 2005 with installations in Rialto, Calif., Ontario, Calif., and Englewood, NJ, has reduced CO2 emissions by an estimated 17.7 million lbs to date, according to the press release.
Staples ranks #5 on the EPA Green Power Partnership’s Top 20 Retail list, representing the largest annual green power usage.
The solar hosting program is accomplished through power purchase agreements (PPA) between SunEdison and Staples. Through the agreements, SunEdison finances, installs, owns, operates and maintains the solar power systems deployed at Staples. In return, Staples purchases the energy produced to offset their grid demand.
In January, Staples installed the largest rooftop solar array in Maryland at its Hanover facility.