Almost half of Apple’s 254 retail stores in the U.S. are powered entirely by energy from renewable sources. Renewable energy powered stores include the flagship Apple Stores located in Palo Alto, Chicago, and New York, and are part of the Cupertino firm’s plans to use renewable energy sources in its operations.
AppleInsider reports that the news comes on the heels of a Greenpeace report that named Apple “the most innovative and most aggressive” in Silicon Valley on the subject of environmental concerns. The information was revealed as part of a Wired interview with Apple environmental chief Lisa Jackson.
Apple has reportedly made the expansion of green energy to its retail stores a top priority in 2014, although there will be issues to resolve to move the efforts forward. Most of Apple’s retail locations are in shopping malls, so the company must work with utility providers who may not offer green power options.
Apple has had success in the past with encouraging U.S. utility companies to provide clean energy for its uses, such as when it forced Duke Energy to adopt a clean energy purchase program for the power used at Apple’s Maiden, NC datacenter.
