MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. - (Business Wire) Kohl’s Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) announced today that according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) quarterly listings, Kohl’s is the number one purchaser of green power among retailers, third overall and third among Fortune 500 companies. EPA’s National Top Partner lists, released earlier today, highlight EPA Green Power Partners that have completed the largest annual voluntary green power purchases through April 7, 2009. According to EPA, green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources like wind and solar. These resources generate electricity with a net zero increase in carbon dioxide emissions.
In 2009, Kohl’s purchased more than 600 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power through renewable energy credits (RECs) in areas such as solar, wind and landfill gas. This is more than double Kohl’s previous green power commitment and enough to meet 50 percent of the company’s purchased electricity use. According to U.S. EPA, Kohl’s green power purchase of 600 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding carbon dioxide emissions of more than 79,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power nearly 60,000 average American homes annually.
“Kohl’s recognizes the significant value of green power for our business, our customers and the environment,” said Ken Bonning, Kohl’s executive vice president of store planning and logistics. “Purchasing renewable energy credits not only helps Kohl’s work toward the goal of reducing our carbon footprint, it also helps fund additional renewable energy projects that will have a positive impact on our communities far into the future. We are pleased to support these initiatives and will continue to explore and embrace environmentally sound practices that conserve resources, manage energy use and support long-term sustainability.”
A member of EPA’s Green Power Partnership since 2006, Kohl’s purchases green power in support of the Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge – an EPA program challenging Fortune 500 companies to collectively exceed 10 billion kWh of green power purchasing by the end of 2009. Kohl’s most recent green power purchase also qualifies the company for EPA’s Green Power Leadership Club, a distinction given to organizations that have significantly exceeded EPA’s minimum purchase requirements. Green Power Leadership Club members must purchase 10 times the Partnership’s minimum requirement organization-wide. Kohl’s was also honored by EPA in both 2008 and 2007 with the Green Power Leadership Award.
"EPA commends our Green Power Partners for their continued commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing green power," said Kathleen Hogan, Director of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at EPA. "By supporting renewable energy, Kohl's Department Stores is helping to move our nation into a clean energy future.”
Kohl’s further supports its mission of being a leading environmentally responsible retailer through a number of key initiatives that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maximize energy efficiency. These initiatives and partnerships include an extensive, industry-leading solar program in addition to active participation in EPA’s ENERGY STAR®, Climate Leaders, WasteWise and SmartWay Transport programs, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED©) program and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Retailer Energy Alliance.
For more information on Kohl’s green initiatives or EPA’s Green Power Partnership, visit www.kohlsgreenscene.com or www.epa.gov/greenpower.
About Kohl’s
Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. Kohl’s operates 1,022 stores in 49 states. A company committed to the communities it serves, Kohl’s has raised more than $126 million for children’s initiatives nationwide through its Kohl’s Cares for Kids® philanthropic program, which operates under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.kohls.com.
About EPA’s Green Power Partnership
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use. The Partnership currently has more than 1,000 Partner organizations voluntarily purchasing billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and federal governments, and colleges and universities. For additional information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower.
Kohl’s Department Stores
Vicki Shamion, 262.703.1464 or vicki.shamion@kohls.com
Mary Ann Campbell, 262.703.7692 or maryann.campbell@kohls.com
