New report: Ohio ranks 4th nationally for big box stores’ rooftop solar potential

Media Contacts
Josh Chetwynd

Wade Wilson

Columbus – Big box roofs have big solar potential in the Buckeye state, according to a new report from Environment Ohio Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group. Solar on Superstores: Big Roofs, Big Potential for Renewable Energy finds that the combined roofs of Ohio’s big box stores could generate roughly 3,347.6 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity each year. That would be equivalent to generating enough energy to power 314,400 average American homes, which ranks 4th in the country.

“Ohio should capitalize on its big potential for big box solar generation,” said Wade Wilson, a report co-author who leads the Solar on Superstores campaign for Environment Ohio Research & Policy Center. “Right now, we’re missing out on a great opportunity to produce clean, renewable energy where it’s used. That needs to change. Putting solar panels on the roofs and parking lots of big box stores will be a big win for Ohio’s environment.”

The report also finds that installing solar on big box stores can provide numerous benefits to Ohio beyond just the environment. These include a more resilient energy grid, cost savings for electricity consumers and cleaner air quality. For high-profile brands such as Walmart, Target and The Home Depot, installing solar panels is a difference-making opportunity in local communities. For that reason, Environment Ohio Research & Policy Center, along with its national partner Environment America Research & Policy Center, launched a campaign in 2021 calling on Walmart to install solar panels on all of its viable roofs and parking lots by 2035.

“Big companies like Walmart have the chance to shine in the much-needed renewable energy transition,” said Wilson. “There are 172 Walmart locations in Ohio. Each store has a big, flat, unobstructed roof, which is ideal for generating solar energy. We know this would be a win for the environment and for business, and that’s why we’re calling on Walmart to go big on solar.”

Along with providing national and state data, the report recommends a number of public policies for states to pursue. These include extending state-level solar energy tax credits, championing community solar programs and streamlining solar permitting by leaning on tools like the Department of Energy’s SolarAPP+.

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