The world’s most iconic coffee shop has committed to a new long-term renewable electricity tariff, the “Green Direct” tariff, in its home state of Washington in an effort to ensure all its local facilities are powered 100% by renewable energy.
Starbucks is one of several iconic brands which have subscribed to the new Green Direct project — essentially a long-term service agreement which aims to eventually produce enough renewable energy to power nearly 30,000 Washington homes. According to the largest investor-owned utility in the state of Washington, Puget Sound Energy, “Green Direct will make a difference by constructing a new renewable generating facility while our partners benefit from cost competitive prices and continued access to energy efficiency programs.” Experts believe that this first subscriber-style green tariff could serve as a model for other utilities across the country, giving companies and institutions the option to subscribe to the tariff in an effort to produce long-term renewable energy growth.
“Green Direct exemplifies the power of partnership,” said Kimberly Harris, president & CEO of Puget Sound Energy. “Working with the UTC and with customers like King County, we’ve been able to structure an industry-leading renewable energy program for our largest electric customers. We’re so excited to see this come together and for what it means to our customers and the region.”
Alongside Starbucks, other big-name subscribers to the tariff include REI and Target, as well as local governments and institutions.
“By partnering with Puget Sound Energy on their innovative Green Direct program, we’re able to power seven of our local Target stores with 100 percent clean energy,” said John Leisen, vice president of property management at Target. “This initiative is just one example of Target’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and promoting renewable energy solutions in the community we serve.”
Starbucks itself is aiming to ensure approximately 116 of its Washington State stores are all powered with green energy from Puget Sound Energy.
“As part of Starbucks ongoing Global Responsibility efforts, we’re proud to support the advancement of renewable energy sources in regionally relevant ways,” said Rebecca Zimmer, Starbucks director of Environmental Impact. “We’re proud of our commitment to bring greener power to our stores, and now through our relationship with Puget Sound Energy, our partners (employees) in the Puget Sound can see this come to life, right in their community.”
Source: cleantechnica.com
