What do you get when you combine two of the biggest most evil companies in the world? Wind powered Wal-Marts! Duke Energy has entered into an agreement with Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the world, to provide electricity for its growing Texas market. Honestly this is exactly what all big evil corporations should be doing, getting less evil.

This partnership will be the first substantial purchase of wind energy in the U.S. by Wal-Mart. The deal also represents one of the first sales of power directly from a specific wind project to a major retailer.

Beginning in April 2009, Wal-Mart will purchase electricity directly from Duke’s Notrees Windpower Project, located in Ector and Winkler counties, Texas. The project will provide clean, renewable energy to up to 15 percent of 360 Wal-Mart stores and other facilities in Texas.

“We’re proud to partner with Wal-Mart on this innovative initiative,” said David Marks, Duke Energy Generations Services senior vice president of wind energy. “Our customers want energy products and services that keep them competitive, yet respond to environmental concerns.”

The first phase of the Notrees facility will enter commercial operation in December. This generation capacity is part of the 500 megawatts of wind power Duke Energy will have on line by the end of this year. Duke’s Ocotillo Windpower Project, located in Howard County, Texas, began operations in September. When completed in 2009, the Notrees project will provide 150 megawatts of electricity.

Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power companies in the United States, supplies and delivers electricity to approximately 4 million U.S. customers and natural gas service to approximately 520,000 customers in its regulated jurisdictions. The company has approximately 35,000 net megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Midwest and the Carolinas, and natural gas distribution services in Ohio and Kentucky. In addition, Duke Energy has more than 4,000 net megawatts of electric generation in Latin America, and is a joint-venture partner in a U.S. real estate company. Lets not forget however that they love them some coal plants, big dirty ones.

Honestly I think this is a case of public demand driving two rather bad companies to green up or face the wrath of the mob. I can’t really see either one of these companies doing this if not for the pressure of people like you dear reader. Good job! Now if we could only work on the entire Wal-mart business model…