US outdoor alliance makes solar power possible
Outdoor retailer REI Co-op, brand Carhartt, climate advisory ERM Coho and the US Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) have joined together in a solar project in Texas that will begin delivering renewable energy certificates to REI Co-op and Carhartt in 2026.
The project was offered through OIA’s Climate Action Corps Impact CoLab, in partnership with member brands and ERM Coho. OIA’s Impact CoLabs accelerate industry progress by enabling brands and suppliers to work together, meeting company sustainability goals more efficiently and cost-effectively.
Individually, OIA members would not have met the electricity supply required to participate in a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA). By coming together through OIA to aggregate their energy demand, members were able to execute a joint VPPA.
Julie Brown, director of sustainable business innovation at OIA, said: “We are incredibly proud of the successful collaboration among the VPPA CoLab participants, culminating in a renewable energy project that will deliver long-term clean energy benefits and advance the outdoor industry’s collective climate goals.”
Gretchen Valade, director of sustainability at Carhartt, added: “No single organisation can tackle the complexities of decarbonisation alone but, together, we can drive meaningful progress.”
