Soon the cup of coffee customers buy from a Starbucks in the state of Illinois will be brewed using renewable energy generated by wind turbines. The Seattle-based coffee giant recently signed a long-term agreement with Constellation, Exelon’s commercial business, to power more than 340 Starbucks locations in Illinois with 100% carbon-free energy.

Key Details

• Starbucks has committed to invest in 100% renewable energy to power operations globally by 2020
• The Starbucks agreement takes advantage of Constellation’s offsite renewables offering, which increases access to renewables for commercial and industrial end users
• This deal was made possible by two separate transactions
  • Constellation’s long-term agreement to purchase a 14-MW portion of the energy generated at Enel Green Power North America’s 185-MW Hilltopper wind farm
  • Constellation will sell energy generated by Enel’s wind turbines to Starbucks stores under a separate agreement
• The 14-MW purchase by Constellation will be enough to brew more than 100 million cups of coffee

Implications

With a long history of securing conventional power in deregulated markets, energy service providers are increasingly providing innovative renewable energy options for commercial customers. The partnership between Starbucks and Constellation illustrates how an energy service provider can provide a renewable energy offering to a retail customer with numerous storefronts.

Additional Resources:

• North American Wind Power: Wind To Power Hundreds Of Illinois Starbucks Locations
• Starbucks: Global Social Impact: 2017 Performance Report

This report is part of ScottMadden’s Clean Tech and Sustainability Minute series. To view all featured Minutes, please click here.