U.S.’s rooftop solar leader SolarCity and Whole Foods Market, Inc. (WFM) announced a new plan to install solar PV arrays across the United States. Up to 100 WFM’s stores will be retrofitted with rooftop solar systems and the food reseller expects to increase its solar power production as well as reduce its electricity fees. Installations are expected to begin this spring.
SolarCity will deliver solar power services for many stores across the Whole Foods Market portfolio, in locations such as Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. Each of the solar systems will be customized to maximize the amount of power generation. In addition, WFM will also save money with the new solar installations by purchasing power from SolarCity at a discount to current electricity costs, locking in low solar energy rates for years into the future.
Direct Energy Business offers managed products with advisory services for a total energy strategy, and has a relationship with Whole Foods Market in some of their stores. Solar is integrated into that strategy as part of a collaboration to provide solar electricity directly to businesses through a dedicated investment fund established by Direct Energy and SolarCity.
Once completed, Whole Foods Market will top 25 corporate solar users in the United States with the solar power systems.
