Wal-Mart announces its first substantial purchase of wind energy in the U.S. The wind power will supply up to 15 percent of the retailer's total energy load in approximately 360 Texas stores and other facilities.

The renewable energy will come from a Duke Energy wind farm under construction in Notrees, Texas, and is expected to begin producing electricity for Wal-Mart by April of 2009.

The project will provide roughly 226 million kWh of renewable power each year or the energy equivalent of washing 108 million loads of laundry -- enough for every household in Austin, Texas to do laundry for a year. By purchasing this amount of clean, renewable energy, Wal-Mart will avoid producing more than 139,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year. This is equal to taking approximately 25,000 cars off the road or eliminating the CO2 produced by 18,000 homes annually.

The wind purchase is another example of Wal-Mart's ongoing commitment to become a more sustainable company and serves as a complement to its solar project announced last year. In May 2007, Wal-Mart announced it would equip up to 22 locations in Hawaii and California with solar panels. Wal-Mart estimates the solar power systems are helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6,500-10,000 metric tons per year.

By integrating wind power into its electricity load, Wal-Mart is building on its diversified energy portfolio and creating more opportunities for advancements in clean energy through research and innovations. This power purchase in the deregulated market territory in Texas is expected to support the creation of green jobs at the West Texas facility. Wal-Mart will use the results of its wind power purchase to explore additional ways to achieve its goal of being supplied by 100 percent renewable energy.