
Food retailer Ahold USA was recently ranked as one of the largest U.S. purchasers of renewable energy by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The company currently purchases 149 million kilowatt hours of green energy per year, enough to cover 7 percent of the company's electricity use. The company is currently ranked No. 7 on the EPA's Top 20 Retail list.
"Reducing our carbon footprint is a primary tenet of Ahold USA's main corporate responsibility priorities, which helps us minimize our impact on the environment while at the same time making operations more efficient," said Jihad Rizkallah, a vice president of store planning for Ahold.
In addition to its commitment to renewable electricity sources, Ahold USA is committed to developing partnerships with neighboring small businesses, especially those owned by women and minorities.
Kohl's Department Stores took the No. 1 spot on the EPA's list of top 20 renewable energy purchasers in the retail industry. Wal-Mart took the No. 2 spot, followed by Whole Foods Market, Starbucks, Staples and Sprint.

