Whole Foods Makes Largest Ever Purchase of Wind Energy Credits in United States
AUSTIN, Texas -- Leading organic and natural foods retailer Whole Foods Market has made a landmark purchase of renewable energy credits from wind farms, to offset 100 percent of the electricity used in all of its stores, facilities, bake houses, distribution centers, regional offices, and national headquarters in the United States and Canada.
The retailer said this is the largest wind energy credit purchase in the history of the United States and Canada, and makes Whole Foods the only Fortune 500 Company purchasing wind energy credits to offset 100 percent of its electricity use.
"Whole Foods Market is a leader in the natural and organic foods movement, and that involves caring about our communities and respecting our environment," said Michael Besancon, Whole Foods Market Southern Pacific regional president and Green Mission task force leader. "This purchase of wind energy credits is a natural extension of that leadership and is integral to our core values. Offsetting 100 percent of our electricity use with renewable, clean energy strengthens our commitment to be a leader in environmental stewardship by helping to clean the air and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels."
As of December 9, 2005, Whole Foods Market is purchasing more than 458,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable energy credits from wind farms. This purchase will avoid more than 700 million pounds of carbon dioxide pollution this year.
Whole Foods chose Boulder, Colo.-based Renewable Choice Energy as its exclusive supplier of renewable energy credits.
To help evaluate options and facilitate the purchasing process, Whole Foods involved the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit environmental think tank World Resources Institute (WRI).
The retailer said this is the largest wind energy credit purchase in the history of the United States and Canada, and makes Whole Foods the only Fortune 500 Company purchasing wind energy credits to offset 100 percent of its electricity use.
"Whole Foods Market is a leader in the natural and organic foods movement, and that involves caring about our communities and respecting our environment," said Michael Besancon, Whole Foods Market Southern Pacific regional president and Green Mission task force leader. "This purchase of wind energy credits is a natural extension of that leadership and is integral to our core values. Offsetting 100 percent of our electricity use with renewable, clean energy strengthens our commitment to be a leader in environmental stewardship by helping to clean the air and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels."
As of December 9, 2005, Whole Foods Market is purchasing more than 458,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable energy credits from wind farms. This purchase will avoid more than 700 million pounds of carbon dioxide pollution this year.
Whole Foods chose Boulder, Colo.-based Renewable Choice Energy as its exclusive supplier of renewable energy credits.
To help evaluate options and facilitate the purchasing process, Whole Foods involved the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit environmental think tank World Resources Institute (WRI).