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EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jan. 22, 2007 - The UK-based retail chain Tesco announced plans to build a $13 million solar installation on five-building, 820,400-square-foot distribution center in Riverside.
"We believe this will be the largest roof-mounted solar installation in California, and possibly the world," said Tesco USA CEO Tim Mason, who announced in December that Tesco was moving into the U.S. market with the opening its U.S. headquarters in El Segundo, California. The company has more than 2,800 stores across Central Europe and Asia, and plans to expand to the U.S. with stores opening this year in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Las Vegas.
On the same day as the solar roof was announced, Tesco's CEO, Terry Leahy, made a speech in London on the implication of the climate change, where he committed Tesco to being a leader in helping to create a low carbon economy, in part by "measuring and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, helping to stimulate the development of low carbon technology ... and by empowering consumers by providing then with choice, value and information."
The solar roof is estimated to have a peak power output of 2 megawatts and will provide nearly a fifth of the depot's power supply. Mason estimated the installation will save about 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
The energy-saving device was developed by Solar Integrated Technologies, Inc., of Los Angeles, a designer, manufacturer and installer of power-generating, building-integrated roofing systems for commercial buildings.
"After extensive research, we have decided that American consumers want to go back to neighborhood retailing, which is about bringing high quality affordable foods and good jobs into their neighborhoods and, in addition, being good stewards of the environment, said Mason. "And that's what we intend to do."
Source: GreeBiz.com
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