America's biggest brands are choosing solar, not only for the environmental benefits but also for the boost it can bring to their bottom lines.

The top 25 companies in SEIA’s Solar Means Business Report installed more than 1,278 individual systems this year. Photo Credit: SEIA

Walmart is once again America’s commercial solar leader for the third year in a row with nearly 142 megawatts (MW) installed at 348 installations across its locations.

1. #ActOnClimate

The release of SEIA’s new rankings of the top corporate solar users in America coincides with commitments made by Walmart and 80 other U.S. companies to the American Business Act on Climate Pledge.

By signing the pledge, these companies provided new and ongoing plans for reducing, avoiding and mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) levels in their operations. The pledge was also a showing of strong support to leaders from around the world who are meeting in Paris this week to solidify broader commitments from countries that are working to address climate change.

These companies are influential and successful brands that have operations in all 50 states, employ more than nine million people, represent more than $3 trillion in annual revenue and have a combined market capitalization of more than $5 trillion.

Deploying more clean energy is a significant way these companies are reducing their emissions and building more sustainable businesses.

In 2014, 26 percent of Walmart’s electricity was generated from renewable sources. In fact, Walmart pledged to double the number of on-site solar energy projects at its U.S. stores, Sam’s Clubs and distribution centers by 2020, compared with its 2013 baseline.

2. #SolarMeansBiz

Choosing to go solar is a surefire way for companies to take action on climate, but it’s also a smart business decision.

For commercial users, average electricity rates have increased more than 20 percent in 10 years, moving from eight cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to more than 10 cents per kWh.

This report shows that companies are taking advantage of this cost savings by increasingly adopting solar or adding to their existing systems to power their operations.

While the report does not provide a complete dataset of corporate solar systems in the U.S., the companies sampled installed 1,686 systems totaling 907 MW, generating enough electricity to power more than 158,000 homes.

This represents a 59 percent increase over the findings of last year's report.

Commercial solar prices are the lowest they have ever been and are continuing to fall, making solar a cost-effective decision that pays in both dividends for the environment and the bottom line.

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