In 2015, Starbucks joined with other companies in the commitment to 100% renewables through membership with RE100 and adherence to the RE100 Buyers Principles to improve its global reporting and purchasing methodology.
It’s official. More than 340 Illinois Starbucks-operated stores are now powered with 100% renewable energy from wind power generated in the state. This will include the Starbucks Chicago Roastery that’s set to open later this year.
The renewable energy to support the stores comes from the generation of around 48,000 megawatt-hours of wind power. According to Starbucks that’s enough power to brew nearly 100 million cups of coffee, or more than seven cups of coffee for every Illinois resident.
The achievement is the result of a long-term offsite renewables agreement made in 2018 between Starbucks and retail energy supplier Constellation. Starbucks will receive electricity and renewable energy certificates from Enel Green Power North America, Inc.’s HillTopper wind farm in Logan County, Illinois.
HillTopper wind farm spans about 7,500 acres and houses 74 GE wind turbines, with a total capacity of 185 MW. Between the construction and ongoing operation of the wind farm, the project created nearly 350 construction jobs and 8 to 10 permanent jobs in Logan County.
Here are some other facts about Starbucks’ renewable energy strategy:
- Starbucks has sourced 100% renewable energy for its more than 9,000 U.S. and Canada company-operated stores since 2015.
- The company has diversified its approach to renewable energy purchases beyond short-term RECs to localize green power purchases, making it more relevant for its partners (employees) and customers while also supporting new projects and stimulating local economic growth.
- In the last year, Starbucks also announced two solar farms in Texas providing enough energy to support the equivalent of 360 Starbucks stores in the Lone Star State, in addition to a 140,000-acre solar farm in North Carolina, which delivers enough clean energy to power the equivalent of the energy consumed by 600 Starbucks stores in state and neighboring Virginia, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.
- Starbucks is a member of the RE100 and aspires to invest in 100% renewable energy to power operations globally by 2020.
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