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Home > BizTimes Daily > Archives > May 12, 2008
Kohl's to convert more stores to solar power
Published May 12, 2008 - BizTimes Daily
Kohl's Department Stores announced today that it plans to convert more than 50 of its existing New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland stores to solar power, representing nearly 80 percent of its locations in the three states.
With the East Coast solar installation, Kohl's will become 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. The Wisconsin stores that are being converted include: the Kohl's Photo Studio in Milwaukee at 11200 W. Heather Ave.; the store in Sussex at N66 W25099 Silver Spring Drive and the store in southwest Waukesha at 2140 W. St. Paul Ave.
Initial construction for the East Coast solar conversions began in January. On average, solar panels provide 30 percent of a store's annual energy, or enough to power 54 homes annually. The total East Coast program is expected to offset 370 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) over the 20-year program and is equivalent to removing more than 36,200 cars from the road for one year.
"Our solar program is one of many ways Kohl's is working to become a leading environmentally responsible retailer," said Ken Bonning, executive vice president of logistics for Kohl's. "We launched our California solar initiative one year ago and are excited to add East Coast locations to the program, making Kohl's distributed solar power program the largest in the world among retailers."
