Starbucks Partners With Nexamp To Launch Six Community Solar Farms In Illinois

After partnering with Mercedes-Benz to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers at 100 locations across the United States (U.S.), Starbucks has announced a new partnership with Nexamp to support six new community solar farms in Illinois.

In detail, the partnership will see Starbuck’s goal to long-term purchases of renewable electricity, effectively anchoring more than 40 MW of community solar capacity in Illinois. This initiative is projected to benefit over 1,100 local residents who are customers of ComEd and Ameren utilities, providing them with lower electricity bills.

Nexamp CEO Zaid Ashai expressed the importance of this partnership stating, “Community solar is a perfect way for retailers to make progress on their own sustainability goals while also playing a role in the build-out of renewable energy resources that have the ability to directly benefit their own customers.”

While Starbucks will receive a portion of the renewable electricity credits, the majority of the capacity from these solar farms will be allocated to area residents and businesses through Nexamp’s community solar program. This strategic approach is to ensure that the benefits of electric energy are shared broadly within the community.

Michael Kobori, Starbucks’ chief sustainability officer, expressed the company’s devotion to environmental stewardship stating, “Starbucks is committed to our environmental promise to give more than we take, and we have a long history of renewable energy projects that bring clean energy to more communities.”

Furthermore, these projects are set to create several hundred new jobs in Illinois. Notably, Nexamp is partnering with various organizations including City Colleges of Chicago and the Chicago Urban League to support workforce development programs. These initiatives aim to provide employment opportunities to a diverse range of communities, aligning with the goals of the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA).

As aforementioned, Starbucks has been making new strategic moves in terms of sustainability with its other recent partnership with Mercedes-Benz. As a result, the company has been inputting efforts toward aims to cut its carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. With this new project, Starbucks is diversifying its actions to enhance sustainability all over the U.S., especially in Illinois.

Read More: Mercedes-Benz and Starbucks To Install EV Chargers At Over 100 U.S. Locations

Construction on the six community solar farms has already started, with the projects anticipated to come online beginning in 2025. With this partnership between Nexamp and Starbucks, both companies are setting a precedent for how entities can contribute to local renewable energy initiatives while pursuing their own sustainability goals.

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