Representatives from REI, Clearloop and Intuit celebrated the completion of the White Pine Solar Project in White Pine, TN. (Image: Business Wire)
REI Co-op secures new environmentally pleasant provide chain facility have a sustainable supply of vitality.
The nation’s largest client co-op is partnering with Intuit and carbon options supplier Clearloop, a Silicon Ranch firm, to construct a brand new 2.8 MW photo voltaic farm in White Pine, Tenn.
The photo voltaic farm will provide 100% renewable vitality to REI’s 400,000-sq.-ft., state-of-the-art. distribution middle in Lebanon, Tenn. which is designed to scale back the affect on the local weather, in addition to round 400 native households.
The distribution middle will serve greater than 60 shops within the Midwest and Southeast and 5.6 million native REI prospects whereas utilizing 30% much less vitality than required by code.
Intuit and REI are every creating 1.4 MW of photo voltaic tasks in collaboration with Clearloop. This mixed effort is estimated to forestall greater than 162 million kilos of carbon from getting into the ambiance over the lifetime of the challenge.
In addition to Intuit and REI, the photo voltaic challenge is supported by the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Dispersed Power Program and native electrical corporations together with Morristown Utility Systems. White Pine Solar Farm shall be developed, owned, and operated by Clearloop’s mother or father Silicon Ranch for the lifetime of the challenge.
“The White Pine challenge represents an thrilling addition to REI’s renewable vitality portfolio,” stated Matt Thurston, divisional VP of sustainability, REI Co-op. Tennessee Valley, a area the place we not too long ago opened a brand new distribution middle, function a number of shops, and have 1000’s of members. Clearloop’s imaginative and prescient is to decarbonize the grid by supporting tasks that increase entry to wash vitality in lots of communities—together with challenge investments in native workforces and innovation practices. or on earth-is the one we imagine in.”
“Intuit has lengthy been centered on making a optimistic affect on the local weather, a key challenge that straight impacts the well-being and talent of individuals and communities to thrive,” stated Debbie Lizt, head of worldwide sustainability at Intuit. “We take a holistic strategy to local weather and sustainability, driving initiatives inside our operational footprint, provide chain, and out of doors the communities we serve. Our collaboration with Clearloop and the area people permits us to convey a significant and deliberate focus of latest photo voltaic tasks in areas the place we will present environmental and financial advantages to communities for years to return.
“Clearloop’s partnership with Intuit, REI, and the area people helps us notice our dedication to decarbonizing the grid with a deliberate give attention to commissioning modern photo voltaic tasks in communities the place doable We can maximize the environmental, instructional, and financial advantages of local weather {dollars},” he stated. Laura Zapata, CEO and co-founder, Clearloop. “This challenge represents the chances fostered by accountable, considerate, and significant company local weather motion.”
Headquartered close to Seattle, REI Co-op has 185 areas in 42 states and the District of Columbia as of October 11, 2023.
