Target is ranked No. 1 in corporate solar energy capacity in 2016, adding more solar this year than any other U.S. retailer, according to report out Wednesday.
It's the first time Minneapolis-based Target has grabbed the No. 1 spot in the six years surveyed by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), a trade group.
Target can generate 147 megawatts of solar energy — when the sun's shining — edging out Wal-Mart with 145 megawatts. A megawatt is a million watts, and one typical, coal-fired electricity generating plant can pump out about 600 megawatts of power.
"We're incredibly proud of the progress we've made in improving building efficiencies and reducing environmental impact," John Leisen, Target's vice president of property management, said in a statement. Target plans to have solar panels installed on 500 stores and distribution centers by 2020.
Currently, Target said 300 of its stores and distribution centers have solar arrays on their roofs.
The SEIA report is not a comprehensive look at all U.S. corporate solar installations, instead focusing on the largest adopters of solar energy. Large corporations' solar deployment altogether has expanded from 300 megawatts in 2012 to over one gigawatt — one billion watts — in 2016, the report said.
Through the first three quarters of 2016, U.S. companies surveyed by SEIA installed 142 megawatts, ahead of the 130 megawatts installed in all of 2015. Still, large corporate solar installations in general are down from their peak years in 2011 through 2013.
Mike Hughlett • 612-673-7003
