Costco Installs Off-Grid Solar at California Distribution Center to Electrify Fleet
Trinity Structures announced it has completed and deployed Costco’s first US Fleet Off-Grid Electrified Structure at its largest distribution center in Mira Loma, California, to achieve Costco’s fleet electrification goals through solar power utilization.
Trinity’s electrified infrastructures are integrated modular ecosystems that create energy with solar power, convert energy with inverters and batteries, and conduct energy through EV charging or backup power.
The project, which normally takes up to 24 months to complete, was designed, constructed, and deployed in just four months. The system is now online and successfully creating, converting, and conducting solar energy.
In total, the electrified structure is projected to generate over 100 MW of solar energy each year – enough to provide 11,750 hours of off-grid fleet vehicle recharging and offset 3 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
This project directly aligns with Costco’s Climate Action Plan, which seeks to convert the company’s depot yard trucks from diesel models to alternative fuel models by 2035 and expand on-site solar operations where feasible.
“These off-grid electrified structures enable our fleet to meet and exceed our Climate Action Commitments during this energy transition. This partnership with Trinity allowed for a solution that is creative, effective, operationally viable, and financially responsible,” said Shay Reed, Assistant General Merchandising Manager at Costco.
Due to California’s Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) Program, which includes compliance and reporting requirements for warehouse owners and operators, Costco was also able to offset $9.8 million in state regulatory fees.
