
The transition to renewable energy has become a driving force for corporations aiming to reduce their carbon footprint and promote sustainability. Companies like Google, Walmart, and Amazon are leading the way by heavily investing in solar energy to power their operations. These industry giants recognize not only the environmental benefits of solar energy but also the long-term cost savings and brand value associated with green initiatives. By integrating solar power into their infrastructure, these corporations are paving the path toward a cleaner and more sustainable future.
Top Companies Using Clean Energy
The top U.S. companies using solar energy to power their facilities are Meta, Amazon, Apple, and Walmart. By incorporating solar energy into their infrastructure, these corporations are leading the way toward a cleaner, more sustainable future, and setting a positive example for companies nationwide.
1) Meta
Since 2020, Meta has achieved a significant milestone by matching 100% of its annual electricity consumption with renewable energy. The company has a strong track record of collaborating with utilities and renewable energy developers to introduce new wind and solar projects to the grids where it operates. As a proactive advocate for clean energy, Meta prioritizes high-quality, innovative renewable projects worldwide. This commitment plays a crucial role in maintaining net-zero emissions across its operations.
Meta has also set a new standard with data center sustainability, utilizing solar energy and other renewable resources to power their data centers. All of Meta's operational data centers are certified LEED Gold or higher, reflecting their commitment to sustainability. In 2023, these data centers achieved impressive efficiency metrics, with an average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.09 and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) of 0.20. To enhance energy optimization, Meta develops custom power profiles, enabling higher power configurations only when specific workloads demand it. They also prioritize resource efficiency by repurposing idle capacity for workloads with lower availability requirements. To further minimize inefficiencies, Meta leverages advanced observability tools to continuously monitor workloads, identify root causes of system bottlenecks, and implement effective solutions.
2) Amazon
Amazon is the largest corporate producer of renewable energy in the United States. In 2023, all of their consumed electricity was matched with renewable energy sources. In fact, Amazon operates over 500 renewable energy projects worldwide, including wind farms, solar farms, and rooftop solar installations on its buildings. These initiatives provide renewable electricity to power Amazon's entire business—spanning operational facilities, corporate offices, physical stores, AWS data centers, and financially integrated subsidiaries.
3) Apple
Electricity is a major contributor to Apple’s carbon footprint, both in manufacturing and powering its products. Through its Apple 2030 initiative, the company is pushing global suppliers to adopt clean energy and achieve carbon neutrality in all Apple-related operations. So far, over 320 suppliers, covering 95% of Apple’s direct manufacturing costs, have joined, bringing 16.5 gigawatts of renewable energy online and generating 25.5 million megawatt-hours of clean energy last year. This helped avoid 18.5 million metric tons of carbon emissions.
To address emissions from users charging devices, Apple plans to match every watt of charging energy with clean electricity by 2030. This includes investing in renewable energy projects worldwide, improving product energy efficiency, and working with customers to decarbonize power grids. In the U.S., Apple is developing solar initiatives in Michigan to add 132 megawatts of clean energy by year-end. In Spain, it’s partnering with ib vogt on a project to generate 105 megawatts of solar power by late 2024. These steps are part of Apple’s drive towards a cleaner, sustainable future.
4) Walmart
The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail giant, Walmart, announced in March 2024 that they will be providing tax equity financing for 19 solar farms that Denver's Pivot Energy is building in Colorado, California, Delaware, Illinois, and Maryland. The projects will be constructed through the end of 2025 and are expected to generate a collective 72 megawatts of electricity, 42 megawatts of which will be in Colorado.
15 of the solar projects are designated as community solar farms, which will allow residents in moderate and low-income areas to "subscribe" to the solar farm's power and benefit from lower energy bills. Pivot Energy estimates that the community solar projects will support more than 7,000 households’ access to subscriptions, and could exceed $6 million in annual savings for residents collectively, with more savings for local businesses and the community as a whole.
“Our partnership with Pivot demonstrates our approach to new clean energy investments, aimed at enabling high-impact, high-quality projects that drive positive outcomes,” said Frank Palladino, Walmart’s vice president for renewable energy strategy. “In addition to facilitating a cleaner power grid, this portfolio will help expand access to clean energy and provide direct savings on energy costs for thousands of households in the communities we serve, including low-and moderate-income communities.”
This is a very unique case of a corporate investor using tax equity financing to fund community solar construction. Typically, larger-scale solar projects sell power to electric utilities. Pivot Energy's partnership with Walmart involves the retailer investing in the construction of the solar projects in exchange for an ownership stake, and then receiving available federal tax credits that are based on the value of the solar farms.
Pivot Energy will oversee construction, own and operate the solar farms, and manage recruiting subscribers to the community solar. Walmart, as the financial backer and co-owner of the solar farms, will be able to claim tax credits based on the value of the solar farms. The tax equity finance investment made by Walmart in the projects is a way for the company to reduce its corporate burden while encouraging clean energy development and decarbonization. The tax credits typically can be used five years after construction. Typically, corporate investors claim the tax credits, then sell their interest in the solar projects — often to their project partner.
Corporate Investment Into Clean Energy
Corporate investment in clean energy brings a wealth of benefits that extend beyond individual businesses. First and foremost, it plays a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, thereby combating climate change. By adopting renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, corporations can significantly decrease their reliance on fossil fuels. This transition not only reduces environmental impact but also stabilizes energy costs, as clean energy sources are less susceptible to price fluctuations compared to traditional fuel markets.
Additionally, corporate investment in clean energy enhances a company's brand reputation. Consumers are increasingly drawn to eco-conscious, sustainable companies that take tangible steps to address global environmental challenges, which can translate into higher customer loyalty and market differentiation. Furthermore, clean energy projects often lead to the creation of new job opportunities in the renewable energy sector, fostering economic growth and innovation. By championing clean energy, corporations position themselves as leaders in sustainability while contributing to a greener and more prosperous global economy.
Businesses can contribute to clean energy production by participating in similar partnerships with renewable energy companies. Corporate property owners can also lease their properties (land, rooftops, parking lots) for renewable energy to produce green energy and generate revenue. LandGate helps corporate property owners evaluate the renewable energy potential of their properties and explore lease offers from a competitive network of energy companies through our marketplace. Advertising properties for lease on LandGate’s marketplace is completely free, and there is no obligation to accept any offers. Learn more about LandGate's solutions for commercial and corporate property owners: