Safeway, joining a whole string of California retailers, today announced a new environmental project to power 23 California stores with renewable solar energy. The company installed solar panels atop a newly renovated Safeway Lifestyle store in Dublin, California and plans to extend the program to nearly two dozen stores as part of a broader renewable energy initiative.

Congressman Jerry McNerney joined Safeway officials on a tour of the Dublin store’s rooftop solar panel array. “I applaud Safeway for its commitment to sustainability and for being an environmental leader among California-based companies,” said Congressman McNerney. “Their Dublin solar project stands as a model for other companies to invest in the same renewable energy technology in California and elsewhere.”

The System at the Dublin Sore will produce 7,500 megawatt hours of electricity per year, enough to provide 20 percent of the stores’ average power usage and up to 48 percent of power usage during the peak hours. The entire Dublin Safeway facility utilizes renewable energy. The store’s on-site retail fuel station already is powered by wind energy. Thats right they have a wind powered gas station. The mind boggles. I would be a bit more impressed with a wind powered electric car charging station, but you know a boy can dream.

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