The solar dedication is part of Macy's Turn Over A New Leaf campaign that kicked off yesterday. The awareness campaign is designed to support, educate and inspire sustainability and eco-friendly practices in everyday life. In addition to special promotions, merchandise and in-store events, Macy's will donate all of the proceeds from ticket sales for its national charity days -- One Good Turn -- on April 26th and 27th to the National Park Foundation.

The solar power system on Macy's San Jose store is expected to generate 404,000 kilowatt hours per year. It will reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 514,000 pounds, which is the equivalent to planting 1590 acres of trees over the 30-year lifetime of the system.

"Through commitment and innovation, I believe that we will lead the way to solving the world's environmental challenges," said San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. "The partnership between Macy's and SunPower is a great example. Together, the two companies are demonstrating how deploying clean renewable technology is fiscally and environmentally responsible. San Jose stands to benefit from their leadership and vision."

Macy's has committed to installing over 8 megawatts of solar power systems on its California stores. At most of the stores, including the San Jose location, Macy's will purchase the generated electricity from a third-party financier under the SunPower Access(TM) power purchase agreement (PPA) program.

MMA Renewable Ventures, will finance, own and operate solar power systems at all stores for which PPA arrangements have been finalized. Delivering predictably priced electricity with no upfront system cost, MMA Renewable Ventures' PPA services provide Macy's with immediate savings and a long-term hedge against rising peak power prices.

Combining solar power with energy efficiency upgrades such as high-efficiency lighting and HVAC systems and energy management systems is expected to reduce energy consumption by more than 24 million kilowatt hours annually, achieving an estimated 40 percent reduction in Macy's demand for utility-provided energy in those stores.

Carbon dioxide emissions are estimated to be reduced by more than 195 million pounds over the lifetime of the systems, which is the equivalent of removing 1,144 cars from California's highways each year.

"Macy's is committed to supporting the development of clean technologies, and reducing our energy consumption," says Macy's, Inc. Vice Chair Tom Cole. "We are proud to join the fight against greenhouse gas emissions in California because we believe a successful business is dependent on a healthy environment."

"SunPower is proud to partner with Macy's to deliver innovative solar technology, efficiency upgrades and affordable financing solutions to support this unprecedented 28-store commitment," said SunPower Chief Executive Officer Tom Werner. "We applaud Macy's for their forward-thinking approach to environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility."

In addition to San Jose, other Northern California locations scheduled to receive SunPower solar power systems include Concord, Cupertino, Daly City, Fresno, Newark, Richmond, San Rafael, Santa Clara, Stockton and Sunnyvale. Completion of all the solar power installations is expected by the end of this year.

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