Safeway Winds Up Usage of Green Energy

Nov 19 - Gourmet News

In an effort to use renewable energy and reap long-term cost savings, Safeway Inc. bought enough wind energy to power its 270 fuel stations, 15 San Francisco grocery stores, and corporate campuses here and in Walnut Creek.

Through a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the move makes Safeway one of the largest buyers of green energy in the United States, said Teena Massingill, manager of corporate public affairs for Safeway. Under the partnership, Safeway purchased 78 million kilowatt hours in the form of wind energy in September.

Safeway bought enough wind energy to power some of its California stores and gas stations.

"We wanted to be a leader in using cleaner sources of electricity and set an example for others to follow," said Massingill.

EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary partnership between the EPA and organizations that pledge to replace a portion of their electricity consumption with renewable energy. Renewable energy, including wind energy, is electricity generated from sources that are more environmentally friendly than traditional fossil fuels. As a result of Safeway' investment, wind power will be supplied to the power grid, replacing electricity generated from other fuel sources.

Besides helping the environment, Massingill said the investment in wind energy will payoff economically down the line. "The larger the demand for wind energy, the more affordable it will become for all of its purchasers and all of its users," she said.

Fuel prices reached a record high in early September when they surged past three dollars, according to the American Automobile Association's Daily Fuel Guage Report.

Massingil said Safeway chose to use the wind energy to power as many parts of the company as possible and its gas stations represent a large portion. It chose the stores in San Francisco because they are some of the oldest and busiest locations, Massingil noted. Powering the corporate offices were a natural step, she said, in order to set an example for the whole company to follow.

As wind energy becomes more available, Massingill said Safeway hopes to buy more wind energy as a power source for more of its stores. "It's a good start," she said.

Safeway operates more than 1,500 stores nationwide regions under the banners Safeway, Vons, Dominick's, Carrs, Randalls and Genuardi's Family Markets.

In related news, Lakeland, FIa.-based Publix Supermarkets has taken short-term steps to conserve electricity. In response to a government plea in the beginning of September to all major retailers to help conserve electricity, Publix has turned off one third of its lights at 864 of its supermarkets. The goal is to save 60 pounds of heating fuel a week companywide, said Marie Brous, director of media for Publix.

Publix has asked customers to bear with them as they conserve electricity. Signs are posted throughout the store to notify customers of the effort. Brous said Publix has not received any complaints.

With no end date set, Publix hopes its customers understand that by turning out the lights its trying to help in any way it can.