Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and NRG Energy, Inc. have announced a global alliance to expand the use of renewable energy systems at Starwood properties.
Beginning with three properties in the Caribbean, the alliance will result in the installation of a 1.3 megawatt (MW) solar array at the Westin St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands where NRG will build, own, and operate the project. This array will provide clean, efficient power to the resort and help to reduce local air emissions. By directly reducing demand for diesel fuel imports, the installation will also decrease the impact of shipping on the Caribbean ecosystem.
Through a multi-year agreement to purchase electricity from the solar arrays installed, NRG will own them while Starwood will be the enabling partner. Starwood expects to reduce its electricity costs and lock in predictable energy costs at an affordable level-reducing the company’s carbon footprint and local air emissions. The solar solutions designed by NRG in consultation with Starwood will integrate with the aesthetic of each location.
“At Starwood, we have established an environmental sustainability goal we call 30/20 by 20meaning we’re committed to reducing our energy consumption by 30 percent and water consumption by 20 percent by 2020 throughout our global hotel and resort system,” says Ken Siegel, chief administrative officer and general counsel for Starwood. “We are making great progress against those goals through a variety of programs in place around the world, and we’re pleased to partner with NRG to be able to provide affordable and sustainable electricity that will benefit the environment, our guests, and our business.”
