Lowe’s Spotlights Solar by Adding Rooftop Panel Installations at 174 Locations

‘Big-box’ retailer touts goal of reaching 50% renewable energy use at facilities by 2030.

Rooftop solar panels installed at the Lowe's in Lumberton, N.J. Lowe's rooftop solar panel installations will span locations throughout California, Illinois and New Jersey,

— Photo courtesy of Lowe’s Corporation

In line with its goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, Lowe's, the large retailer of building products and household goods, announced details of rooftop solar panel installations at 174 store and distribution center locations nationwide, including 20 sites currently in operation.

According to a company release, once completed, the solar panels will provide approximately 90% of the energy usage at locations throughout California, Illinois and New Jersey, helping the company reduce emissions and reach its goal of using at least 50% renewable energy by the beginning of 2030.

“At Lowe's, we are focused on operating responsibly and reducing our impact on the environment,” said Chris Cassell, Lowe's vice president of corporate sustainability. “Investing in renewable energy lowers operating costs and is an important step in reducing emissions associated with our stores and distribution centers.”

Through partnerships with DSD Renewables, Greenskies Clean Focus, and Infiniti Energy, Lowe's rooftop solar panel installations spread strategically on the East and West Coasts and the Midwest. The company broke out the numbers geographically and include 20 stores in New Jersey that are currently operational through Infiniti Energy. Panel installations at six additional Lowe's stores in the state are in development and scheduled to be operational later this year.

55 stores in California as well as 36 stores and three distribution centers in Illinois, planned in partnership with DSD. The company said construction is expected to begin at all sites by the end of 2023. Two distribution and 52 stores in California, in partnership with Greenskies Clean Focus, are scheduled to begin construction later this year.

The investment in rooftop solar panels furthers Lowe's sustainability goals, including achieving its 2025 goal of reducing scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 40% — relative to 2016 emissions levels — four years ahead of the company’s original projections.

To learn more about Lowe's sustainability initiatives, please visit responsibility.lowes.com.