If Clean Energy is “painful”, it appears Wal-mart can tolerate more “pain” than Austin.
Wal-Mart currently uses 15% wind power for 360 of its stores and other facilities in Texas, obtaining its renewable energy supply from a large wind project in Notrees, Texas.
Austin Energy obtained 6.6% of its energy from renewable energy sources during FY2008. (source: Austin Energy’s Strategic Planning Update, December 30, 2008, page 5)
Austin Energy expects to obtain 12% of its energy from renewable energy during 2009. (source: Resource & Climate Protection Plan to 2020: Recommendations & Plan, Page 17)
Since Wal-Mart is a very cost-conscious company and serves a customer base that includes many low-income shoppers, perhaps Clean Energy is not as painful as some in Austin currently think.
