Dollar Tree and Family Dollar Participate in New York Solar Portfolio to Advance Sustainability Goals and Increase Community Solar Access

Dollar Tree recently teamed up with DSD Renewables, a leader in clean energy solutions, to deploy a community solar portfolio at select Dollar Tree and Family Dollar locations in New York. These seven projects will help the company successfully meet operational energy demands while supporting solar programs for various local communities and small businesses.

Earlier this year, Dollar Tree announced its commitment to set a science-based Net Zero target by June 30, 2024. To help achieve future emissions reduction targets, the company is assessing renewable energy procurement, including community solar.

NRG Energy assisted in issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to find the right partner. Given its extensive experience with developing innovative community solar projects in New York and across the nation, DSD was selected to develop the projects. Dollar Tree would serve as an anchor tenant subscriber – offtaking a majority of the energy generated – for a seven project, 41.75 megawatts (MW) community solar portfolio, to be built by DSD in East Syracuse, Cortland, Remsen, Medina, Silver Creek and Brier Hill.

7.1 MW Gound Mount in Medina, New York. Photo courtesy of LightEdison.

“Community solar is a unique and emerging energy solution for many of our facilities. Serving as an anchor subscriber will power our facilities with renewable energy and help us toward our future Net Zero commitment,” said Jennifer Silberman, Chief Sustainability Officer at Dollar Tree, Inc. “Simultaneously, it allows us to deliver real benefits to the communities we serve, increasing access to clean, affordable energy for residents and local businesses.”

The portfolio is estimated to generate 55.77 GWh of clean energy annually — the equivalent of avoiding 24,127 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. Dollar Tree will offtake 16.67 MW of the larger portfolio, offsetting 29% of energy needs across 184 Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores in New York. Two of the projects are already under asset operation, and the remaining five under construction are expected to be operational in stages starting in fall 2023.

“We’re excited to have household names and recognized industry leaders like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar supporting our community solar portfolio,” says Katie Kavanaugh, Community Solar Manager at DSD. “Not only are we determined to help them reach their energy goals, but their participation as an anchor offtaker introduces the necessary backing to more readily deploy our projects, opening up access to communities that may not have had a chance to partake in these programs otherwise.”

DSD Renewables | https://dsdrenewables.com/