Kohl's Implements Solar Power in Northeast Stores

Kohl's Implements Solar Power in Northeast Stores
May 12, 2008

Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based Kohl's Corp. announced that it plans to convert more than 50 of its existing New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland locations to solar power, representing nearly 80 percent of its locations in these three states. Currently Kohl's operates 34 stores in New Jersey, 17 in Connecticut and 16 in Maryland. With the East Coast solar installation, Kohl's will be the largest retail host of solar power, and its distributed solar program is now the largest in the world among retailers. In a distributed solar program, silent, renewable energy is produced and used at the same location requiring no transmission infrastructure. Kohl's has converted more than 25 of its 88 California locations to solar power, with plans to activate approximately 50 additional sites in the state. Solar installations are also under way at three Wisconsin locations, and Kohl's hopes to add other states to its growing solar offering before year-end. Initial construction for the East Coast solar conversions began in January. On average, solar panels provide 30 percent of a store's annual energy. The total East Coast program is expected to offset 370 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the 20-year program and is equivalent to removing more than 36,200 cars from the road for one year.