Loblaw unveiled a carbon-free energy deal on Thursday that will shift the company’s operations in Alberta to be powered entirely by renewable sources, including wind, sun, and water. This change extends to the company’s supermarkets, drugstores, offices, and distribution centers in the region.
This program will eliminate the carbon emissions associated with the company’s electricity purchases in Alberta, while cutting its nationwide enterprise operating emissions by 17 percent, according to the company.
As a result of the deal, the company is closer to its goal of using carbon-free electricity to power over 280 locations, including subsidiaries like Real Canadian Superstore, Shoppers Drug Mart, No Frills, Real Canadian Liquor Store, its Independent, and Wholesale Club stores, as well as the company’s offices and distribution centers. This energy purchase will provide over 300,000 megawatt hours of carbon-free energy every year and save the equivalent of up to 180,000 metric tons of carbon emissions from being released into the atmosphere.
"Loblaw has been actively reducing its carbon emissions for over a decade, consistently exceeding its own ambitious targets. Last year, when we raised those targets to become net zero by 2040, we knew we would need some breakthrough innovation to reach our goal,” said Galen G. Weston, chairman and president of Loblaw Companies Limited, in a statement. “This project delivers that by turning our highest carbon-emitting energy market into our lowest, in one single step.”
By coupling the three renewable energy methods into a shared electrical grid, the program solves a renewable energy problem where one source may not provide enough energy due to external factors: when solar panels fail to provide electricity at night, the power can be supplemented with the energy from wind turbines and the pumped-hydro energy storage station.
Loblaw is making this purchase from TC Energy, an experienced, long-time North American energy company.
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