Solar panels on the roof of GM's Baltimore Operations complex.
According to solar rankings released this morning by the Solar Energy Industries Association, General Motors is the No. 1 automotive user of solar power in the U.S.
The Top 20 list of the largest commercial solar users in the U.S. was pulled by cumulative solar energy capacity.
“Being listed among environmental leaders like Walmart and IKEA reinforces our progress in reducing our energy use,” said Mike Robinson, GM vice president of Sustainability and Global Regulatory Affairs. “We understand the environmental and business benefits of using renewable energy and we look forward to building on it with our new commitments.”
GM’s solar arrays will generate enough electricity this year to power 800 homes in the U.S., and that amount is expected to double in 2013.
Some of GM’s top solar installations in the U.S. include a 1.237MW array on the rooftop of the White Marsh, Md. plant near Baltimore, and a 1MW solar array on a distribution center in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
SEIA Top 20 Consumer Solar Users
- Walmart Stores
- Costco Wholesale
- Kohl’s Department Stores
- IKEA
- Macy’s
- McGraw Hill
- Johnson and Johnson
- Staples, Inc.
- Campbell’s Soup
- Walgreen Co.
- Bed Bath and Beyond
- Toys “R” Us
- General Motors
- FedEx Corporation
- White Rose Foods
- Dow Jones & Company
- Snyder’s
- ProLogis
- Hartz Mountain Industries
- Crayola
Impressive work, GM! Only one question on the 2.1% renewable energy sources: Does that include renewable sources on the grid, or just GM’s solar installations?
Hi, Benjamin – Thanks for your comment.
The percentage of energy we derive from renewable energy sources includes solar power we pull from our arrays and landfill gas usage at a handful of our facilities.