Retail

21 Nov 2014

Walmart is a Huge Consumer of Dirty Coal Energy

by Walter Wuthmann | Date: 21 Nov 2014 | posted in: Retail | 0

Walmart has been strutting around decked out in solar panels lately. But look a little closer and this emperor’s outfit isn’t all that it appears to be. Only 3 percent of Walmart’s U.S. power is supplied by its renewable energy projects. Which begs the question: Where does the other 97 percent of Walmart’s power come from? Here at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, we decided to take a look. And what we found is a big, filthy mountain of coal.
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20 Nov 2014

New Report Reveals Walmart’s Heavy Dependency on Coal-Fired Electricity, Undermining Company’s Pledge to Be an Environmental Leader

by ILSR | Date: 20 Nov 2014 | posted in: Press Release, Retail | 0

As a growing group of environmental leaders call on Walmart to stop greenwashing and commit to real sustainability, a new study from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance finds that Walmart is one of the nation’s largest users of coal-fired electricity, and that its heavy reliance on dirty power pumps nearly 8 million metric tons of carbon pollution into the air each year.… Read More

20 Nov 2014

New Report: Walmart’s Dirty Energy Secret

by Stacy Mitchell | Date: 20 Nov 2014 | posted in: Energy, Retail | 2

Walmart talks a lot of talk about its renewable energy initiatives, but a new ILSR report finds that all that hype is just slick greenwashing hiding the company’s massive coal consumption. In this first-of-its-kind analysis, ILSR calculated that Walmart is one of the nation’s largest users of coal-fired electricity. Despite pledging nearly a decade ago to shift to 100 percent renewable energy, Walmart today derives only 3 percent of its U.S. electricity from its renewable energy projects — far less than many small businesses and competing chains. Several national environmental leaders — including Michael Brune of Sierra Club, Bill McKibben of 350.org, and Jeremy Hays of Green For All — joined ILSR in releasing the study and calling for change.… Read More

14 Nov 2014

Get the Facts on Shopping Local for the Holidays with this Infographic

by ILSR | Date: 14 Nov 2014 | posted in: Retail | 0

Independent businesses are poised to draw more people this holiday season. To illustrate the ways that local businesses are growing in popularity, delivering stronger economic returns, and expanding in numbers, the Advocates for Independent Business, a coalition of 14 groups coordinated by ILSR, put together this infographic.

5 Nov 2014

North Dakota Defeats Walmart-Led Effort to Overturn Pharmacy Laws

by ILSR | Date: 5 Nov 2014 | posted in: Media Coverage, Retail | 0

Governing Magazine, November 5, 2014 North Dakota’s independent pharmacists have again beaten back an effort by Walmart and other chain stores to operate pharmacies in the state — and it wasn’t even close. About 60 percent of voters said “no” to a measure that would have repealed a 1963 law restricting ownership of pharmacies to pharmacists … Read More

5 Nov 2014

In Big Win for Local Ownership, North Dakota Votes to Keep State’s Pharmacy Law

by Olivia LaVecchia | Date: 5 Nov 2014 | posted in: Retail | 0

At North Dakota polls on Tuesday, local ownership was the winner. The state voted overwhelmingly to keep its forward-thinking Pharmacy Ownership Law, defeating Measure 7, the Walmart-funded effort to overturn it. Final returns came in with 59 percent of the vote in favor of the law, the Fargo Forum reports.… Read More

3 Nov 2014

Why North Dakotans Should Vote to Keep the State’s Unique Pharmacy Law this Election Day

by Olivia LaVecchia | Date: 3 Nov 2014 | posted in: Retail | 0

This Tuesday, North Dakota voters will decide the fate of the state’s Pharmacy Ownership Law. Those working against the law—namely Walmart, which has sunk more than $3 million into a front group called North Dakotans for Lower Pharmacy Prices—contend that abandoning the long-standing policy would lead to an increase in the number of pharmacies serving North Dakota. Our research suggests just the opposite.… Read More

22 Oct 2014

Indie Biz Awards honor 10 in Portland – ILSR’s Stacy Mitchell Included!

by ILSR | Date: 22 Oct 2014 | posted in: Media Coverage, Retail | 0

Portland Press Herald, October 22, 2014 Nine independent Portland businesses and one of the founders of the buy local effort were honored Wednesday night at the annual Indie Biz Awards ceremony. Stacy Mitchell, one of the founders of the Portland Independent Business & Community Alliance, was honored with Portland Buy Local’s Beacon Award, honoring her “leadership … Read More

22 Oct 2014

Wal-Mart Cheered, Jeered for Solar Power Efforts

by ILSR | Date: 22 Oct 2014 | posted in: Media Coverage, Retail | 0

Arkansas Business, October 22, 2014 No matter the situation the world’s largest retailer involves itself in, rest assured, it will be analyzed, critiqued and questioned to excruciating levels. The latest issue is solar power. Slate has a story on the Solar Energy Industries Association report on the top 25 corporations in terms of megawatts of solar … Read More