Walmart's Solar Power Initiative Will Total More Than 130 Stores By The End Of 2013

Walmart today announced its plan to install solar panels on up to 60 additional stores in California, expanding the company's solar portfolio to more than 75 percent of its stores in the state, making California the first state in the nation where Walmart has devoted this level of commitment to renewable energy.  

"California presents a great opportunity for Walmart to make significant progress toward our sustainability goals by installing solar power on more than 130 store rooftops throughout the state," said Kim Saylors-Laster, Walmart vice president of energy.  "Walmart has reduced energy expenses by more than a million dollars through our solar program, allowing us to pass these savings on to our customers in the form of everyday low prices."

When complete, Walmart's total solar commitment in California is expected to:

• Generate up to 70 million kilowatt hours of clean, renewable energy per year, which is the equivalent of powering more than 5,400 homes*;
• Avoid producing more than 21,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, which is the equivalent of taking approximately 4,100 cars off the road*; and
• Provide 20 to 30 percent of each facility's total electric needs.

"Walmart has undertaken one of the most ambitious solar initiatives of any company in the U.S., and tripled the scale of its initial project with us," added Lyndon Rive, SolarCity's CEO.  "Walmart is setting an example that far more companies in the U.S. can follow; it is possible for many businesses to pay less for solar power than they currently pay for electricity."

Walmart's investment in solar power is anticipated to create hundreds of jobs in California through its partnership with SolarCity, which will own, install and maintain the new solar power systems. The San Mateo, Calif.-based company has added more than 500 new full-time jobs since it initiated its first Walmart solar project, and expects to hire hundreds more before the end of the year.

"Our solar efforts in California have proven to be a great way for Walmart to build our renewable energy program," said Mack Wyckoff, senior manager of renewable energy at Walmart.  "We are confident that we will continue to grow our solar energy program in the U.S. and around the world because of the initial success we have had in California."

Walmart is using a number of renewable technologies around the world to make progress towards the goal of being supplied by 100 percent renewable energy.

Valero Renewables to Install Corn Oil Extraction Systems at Four Midwest Ethanol Plants

Valero Renewable Fuels Company LLC, a subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation, announced today its plan to install an ICM-patent pending, next-generation Advanced Oil System (AOS) corn oil extraction system at four of its ethanol plants in the Midwest by the end of the first quarter of 2012.

The investment will allow the Valero Renewables plants to recover more than one-half pound of corn oil per bushel of corn processed, giving the plants an additional source of revenue besides ethanol and distillers grains.

The four plants that will take part in the initial installation of corn oil extraction equipment are in Albert City, Charles City, Fort Dodge and Hartley, Iowa. Following the initial rollout of corn oil extraction at these first four plants, Valero Renewables will study the possibility of installing the equipment at another five of its plants that use a dry mill technology to produce ethanol.

“In the basic dry mill ethanol process, all of the corn oil ends up in distillers grains, which is used as livestock feed,” said Jim Gillingham, Valero’s Senior Vice President-Alternative Energy and Project Development. “The new equipment will allow us to recover corn oil so that it can be sold into higher-value markets for use in animal feed and as a feedstock for biodiesel production.”

Valero Renewables expects the corn oil extraction program to enhance plant margins at a low cost, enabling a payback of capital expenditures in less than two years.