Walmart Stores Inc. (Bentonville, Ark.) added a solar panel installation at its College Avenue location in San Diego, marking its 100th California Walmart to use the rooftop power system. The company’s goal is to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy. The company has been working with California-based SolarCity in its California stores.

“By using one of California's greatest resources – sunshine – and employing renewable technology with our California-based partners, we will continue developing solutions that are both good for the environment and good for business,” says Kimberly Sentovich, senior vp, Pacific Division for Walmart.

The company says its combined solar efforts in California are expected to generate up to 70 million kilowatt hours of clean, renewable energy per year and avoid producing more than 21,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. The systems provide 10 to 30 percent of each facility's total electricity needs.

Walmart plans to grow its solar program to 130 stores by the end of 2013. Solar technology is now working in 43 stores in the Los Angeles area; 17 stores in the Bay Area; 11 stores in San Diego; 10 stores in Sacramento; six stores in the Fresno area; three stores in Chico-Redding; three stores in Monterey-Salinas; three stores in Palm Springs; two stores in the Bakersfield area; and two stores in Santa Barbara.