Starbucks dabbles in wind energy

Starbucks outlet on Portland's Hawthorne Boulevard.

Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee Co. (Nasdaq: SBUX) announced April 14 that it will buy enough wind power to match 5 percent of the energy needed for its company-operated retail stores in North America.

“Because the energy used at our retail stores makes up nearly 50 percent of our total greenhouse gas emissions, this is a natural starting point for us," said Sandra Taylor, Starbucks' senior vice president of corporate social responsibility. "By supporting renewable energy sources we believe we are taking a step in the right direction and encourage other businesses to do the same.”

In an effort to understand its contribution to climate change, Starbucks voluntarily conducted an inventory of its greenhouse gas emissions in 2004. As a result, the company committed to setting an emissions reduction target in 2005. Starbucks recently joined the Climate Group and the World Resources Institute’s Green Power Market Development Group. The company also announced a financial commitment to Global Green USA in support of its efforts to bring together governments, businesses and individuals to take action on climate change.

“It is critical that U.S. businesses aggressively take action if the most serious effects of climate change are to be averted," said Jonathan Lash, president of the World Resources Institute. "A successful climate future is simply not possible without immediate participation.”

Starbucks' purchase of renewable energy for its company-operated retail stores is estimated to cut its emissions by 2 percent. It also catapults the company into the current top-25 list of U.S. purchasers of renewable energy.

The coffee giant bought Green-e certified tradable renewable energy certificates, supplied by 3 Phases Energy Services, from new wind projects in California and Minnesota. The certificates represent the environmental benefits of clean energy production and serve to offset non-renewable sources from the regional or national electric grid. Starbucks' investment is earmarked for further the development of new wind energy.

Starbucks operates more than 9,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim.