Kohl’s goes solar in California

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.
April 26, 2007 12:49pm

Retailer Kohl's Corp. (NYSE: KSS) says it plans to convert more than 75 percent of its California stores to solar power.

Initial construction begins next months on its stores in Visalia in the Central Valley and in Laguna Niguel in Southern California.

In total, 24 of Kohl’s 80 California locations will mark the company’s immediate entry into solar energy. Within the state, Kohl’s also is pursuing permits and approvals for an additional 40 or more locations.

“Kohl’s is committed to being environmentally responsible,” says Ken Bonning, executive vice president of logistics for Kohl’s, in written comments. “We are actively seeking ways to make a difference as an organization. Our continued commitment to green power is an important way Kohl’s can make an immediate and long-term impact.”

Kohl’s initial purchase of solar power will generate more than 35 million kWh of renewable energy. In the first year of operation, Kohl’s clean energy output will offset more than 28 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), it says. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas directly linked to global climate change.

“The scope of Kohl’s commitment to domestically produced, clean renewable energy is signified by the size and breadth of their solar program – the single largest purchase of solar energy in U.S. history,” says Jigar Shah, CEO of SunEdison, North America’s largest solar energy service provider. “SunEdison looks forward to the construction and ‘solarization’ of each of these Kohl’s locations in the coming months.”

Upon permit approval, construction and activation of each California Kohl’s solar conversion will take approximately 12 weeks. The first two stores will be completed by August of this year and all designated solar locations in California will be finalized by the end of 2008. In addition to California, Kohl’s is investigating solar options in seven other states.

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’s operates 834 stores in 46 states.