Walmart and Sunpower Announce Solar Power Project

CHINO, Calif., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR), a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, today announced completion of a 390-kilowatt solar power system at the Sam's Club store in Chino. The store is the first of seven Wal-Mart facilities in California to receive high-efficiency SunPower solar power systems, totaling 4.6 megawatts, and is part of a major purchase of solar power from SunPower and other solar power providers for approximately 22 Wal-Mart stores, Sam's Clubs and distribution centers in Hawaii and
California. The stores included in the pilot project are expected to achieve savings over their current utility rates as soon as the first day of operation.

"We are very pleased with SunPower's progress on the Chino solar project," said Kim Saylors-Laster, vice president of energy for Wal-Mart. "Wal-Mart is moving forward with its commitment to conserve energy, reduce energy costs and lower greenhouse gas emissions -- and this project is a step in the right direction."

"Leading companies like Wal-Mart are turning to solar power because it makes good business sense and supports their environmental initiatives," said Tom Werner, chief executive officer of SunPower. "Wal-Mart's SunPower solar power systems are financed through our SunPower Access(TM) program, which is a power purchase agreement that allows our customers to take
advantage of the environmental and financial benefits of solar power with no upfront capital costs. The solar electricity will be competitively priced against retail rates, providing Wal-Mart with a long-term hedge against rising peak power prices."

Each solar power generating system installed may vary, but on average it can provide up to 30 percent of the power for the store on which it is installed. "By Wal-Mart's estimates, installing the solar power systems will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8,000-10,000 metric tons per year," said David Ozment, director of energy for Wal-Mart. The solar power pilot project is a major step toward Wal-Mart's goal of being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy.

On the roof of Wal-Mart's Chino store, SunPower installed the proprietary SunPower(R) T-10 solar roof tile, which tilts at a 10-degree angle to increase energy capture. SunPower solar panels, which are 50 percent more efficient than conventional solar panels, are used to maximize
power generation and financial savings, especially on rooftops with constrained space.