{Solar Means Business 2015}

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Title{Solar Means Business 2015}
Publication TypeMiscellaneous
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsAssociation SEnergy Ind
Keywordssolar commercial "United States"
AbstractMore of America's businesses are choosing to install solar than ever before. Walmart once again took the top spot among America's businesses in the electric generation capacity of its solar investments and number of solar projects. The big box retailer, based in Bentonville, Ark., boasts a robust 142 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity and has completed 348 installations. Many more of the country's most recognizable and best-run companies continue to expand their use of solar energy. IKEA and Costco are powering stores with solar. FedEx distribution centers are powered by solar. Apple and Verizon data centers are powered by solar. The headquarters and offices of Mortenson Construction, L'Oreal, the Better Business Bureau and Forever 21 also rely on solar. Auto manufacturers such as General Motors, Ford, Toyota and Volkswagen use solar energy, and so do manufacturers such as Owens Corning, Intel, and Johnson {&} Johnson. Across industries, America's business leaders are choosing solar to cut costs, help their bottom line and plan for the future. While this report highlights the ever-expanding list of companies choosing to go solar, it also calls attention to the many ways in which America's companies are choosing to use solar to meet their business goals. While solar has long been viewed as an environmentally responsible energy choice, businesses now deploy solar because it is a smart fiscal choice as well. In doing so, these companies have proven the viability of solar technology, showing that it is ready now to provide low-cost power generation on an increasingly large scale. With the right policies in place, solar will continue to play a crucial role in moving America's economy forward. From manufacturers to retailers, to tech companies, real estate agencies and financiers, more U.S. businesses are reducing costs by taking advantage of the sharp decline in the cost of solar. Growth in corporate solar adoption has not been limited to traditional solar markets in California, Arizona and New Jersey- this year's report finds installations in states like Arkansas, Kansas and Indiana. It is increasingly apparent that solar is a smart business decision wherever your business may be. The growth in solar adoption by America's business community represents just one piece of the broad-based growth in solar installations we've seen in the United States over the last decade. Spurred by investments in solar made at the residential, commercial and utility-scale level, installed solar capacity in the U.S is 30 times greater today than it was in 2006. By the end of 2015, there will be enough solar electricity generated in the U.S. to power more than 5.5 million homes. This fourth edition of Solar Means Business surveyed some of America's largest companies as well as a number of additional businesses with known solar portfolios. The increased solar adoption by major corporations shown in this report reflects the overall growth within the broader commercial sector, but more importantly shows that companies that previously installed solar are continuing to add more of it. Companies sampled here installed 1,686 systems totaling 907 MW, generating enough electricity to power more than 158,000 homes. This represents a 59{%} increase over the findings of last year's report. While this dataset cannot be considered a comprehensive look, it does provide insight into the diversity of companies that are choosing to go solar.
URLhttp://www.seia.org/map/solar-means-business-report.html http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-means-business-2015-top-us-corporate-solar-users