Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, has announced an agreement with Walmart to power 44 Walmart locations across the state with clean energy.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Consumers Energy’s Renewable Energy Program, which has garnered commitments from over 30 large employers, furthering Michigan’s transition towards sustainable energy solutions.
Lauren Snyder, Consumers Energy’s Vice President of Customer Experience, emphasized the company’s dedication to Michigan’s clean energy future, stating, “Developing new renewable energy resources for our customers reflects Consumers Energy’s commitment to Michigan’s clean energy future and the collaboration it takes to bring them to fruition.”
Walmart, a key player in the retail industry, continues to accelerate its energy transformation strategy, with a goal to power all its operations with renewable energy.
“Walmart’s energy transformation roadmap is designed to prioritize high-impact, high quality clean energy opportunities that help add new clean energy capacity to the grid and secure reliable and emissions-free power for our operations,” Stephen Chriss, Senior Director for Utility Partnerships at Walmart, said.
As part of the agreement, Walmart has committed to matching 90 percent of the energy usage across the 44 Michigan locations with renewable energy from future projects developed by Consumers Energy in Michigan.
The initiative extends beyond Walmart, as over 30 businesses served by Consumers Energy have committed to nearly 600 megawatts of emission-free renewable energy, supporting their sustainability objectives.
This collective effort is estimated to power approximately 66,000 homes annually and equates to removing greenhouse gas emissions produced by over 120,000 cars from the environment each year, according to calculations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Recent participants in Consumers Energy’s Renewable Energy Program include Calmic LLC, CIE Newcor MTG, and Mayfair Plastics Inc., highlighting the growing momentum of clean energy adoption among Michigan businesses.
Consumers Energy’s Renewable Energy Program offers a local, cost-effective, and flexible solution for businesses to leverage solar and wind energy to achieve sustainability goals. Moreover, the program fosters job creation within Michigan’s renewable energy sector, contributing to the state’s economic growth.
Consumers Energy’s commitment to sustainability aligns with its Clean Energy Plan, which aims to eliminate coal as an energy source by 2025, achieve net-zero carbon emissions, and fulfill 90 percent of customers’ energy needs through clean sources such as wind and solar.