McDonald's Signs Huge Renewable Energy Deal

The Golden Arches are going green. McDonald’s just signed a major renewable energy deal that puts the fast food conglomerate on track for an ambitious climate change goal.

The deal amounts to 220MW of wind and 160MW of solar – both from Texas projects – that will serve the energy needs of 2,500 McDonald’s locations.

According to Francesca DeBiase, the chief supply chain and sustainability officer at McDonald’s, “These U.S. wind and solar projects represent a significant step in our work to address climate change, building on years of renewable energy sourcing in many of our European markets.”

McDonald’s has vowed to cut greenhouse gas emissions 36% by 2030, and they’re supposedly the first restaurant to set a similar “science-based target” – which is externally validated by independent NGOs to ensure the goal is consistent with climate science.

Of course, 95% of McDonald’s locations are individual franchisees, so the efficiency target is difficult.

"One thing that is important is to not being afraid to estimate the footprint of the franchisees' scope," said Jenny McColloch, McD’s senior director of sustainability and corporate social responsibility. "Looking at corporate-owned footprints when it comes to metrics like greenhouse gas emissions could be very misleading…”

Read more here: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/08/mcdonalds-signs-long-term-deals-for-texan-wind-and-solar-energy.html