Consumers Energy to power 44 Walmart locations with clean energy

Consumers Energy and Walmart Inc. announced Wednesday an agreement for the utility to power nearly half of the retailer's Michigan locations with clean energy from wind and solar power.

Under the agreement, 44 of Walmart's 94 stores in Michigan will participate, a milestone for Consumers Energy’s Renewable Energy Program, the utility said in a news release.

“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,” Lauren Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president of customer experience, said in the release.

“By diversifying the energy portfolio, we are making a meaningful impact in adding critical new clean energy capacity to the grid while fostering economic growth and job creation in renewable energy," she said.

Stephen Chriss, senior director for utility partnerships at Walmart, said in the release that the partnership aligns with Walmart's plan to accelerate toward its goal of powering all of 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,” Chriss said. “We look forward to collaborating  with Consumers Energy to add new clean energy capacity to Michigan’s power grid.”

"Walmart is agreeing to match 90% of the energy they use across 44 Michigan locations with renewable energy from future projects that Consumers Energy will develop in Michigan," the release stated. Other Michigan participants in the Renewable Energy Program include Calmic LLC, CIE Newcor MTG and Mayfair Plastics Inc.

Consumers Energy providing natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million residents in 68 of Michigan's 83 counties. Consumers Energy’s Clean Energy Plan calls for eliminating coal as an energy source in 2025, achieving net-zero carbon emissions and meeting 90% of customers’ energy needs through clean sources, including wind and solar, the release stated.

mjohnson@detroitnews.com

@_myeshajohnson