Wind contracts among corporate power users have grown from 5% in 2013 to 40% in 2016, according to the American Wind Energy Association.
Though tech companies like Google and Salesforce have long been using renewable energy, corporate giants such as Walmart and General Motors have become some of America’s biggest purchasers of such energy.
According to Reuters, large corporations are attracted not only to the environmental aspect of renewable energy but, more so, to the cost savings.
The automaker has struck deals with two Texas wind farms that will soon provide enough energy to power over a dozen GM facilities, including the U.S. sport utility vehicle assembly plant in Arlington, Texas that produces the Chevrolet Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade and GMC Yukon.
General Motors is on track to reach 100% renewable energy by 2050, according to Rob Threlkeld, global manager of of renewable energy for GM, during a presentation at this year’s Environmental Leader Conference and Energy Manager Summit.
Threlkeld cited GM’s commitment towards renewable energy as being driven by the consistent decrease in wind and solar costs.
Though President Trump recently announced the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, numerous businesses and organizations are staying committed to their current environmental and energy efficiency goals.
Walmart’s Director of Energy and Operations Sustainability Joby Carlson recently said the company is committed to reducing direct Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions 18% by 2025. The retailer has also said it has set a goal of reducing 1 gigaton of emissions from its value chain.
Clothing retailer H&M last month announced its commitment to a climate positive value chain by 2040.
