Yesterday Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announced the completion of three brand-new solar installations in Southern California, making steady progress on its pledge to supply itself completely through renewable energy. The projects are located in the cities of Paramount, Baldwin Park and Highland, the first two of which are found in Los Angeles County, and the third in San Bernardino County, and although no information is publicly available on the size of these installations, it’s safe to assume that Wal-Mart is attempting to put its money where its mouth is.

From the Wal-Mart press release:

“The completion of these facilities marks another important step in our drive to become more sustainable and achieve our goal of being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy,” said Kimberly Sentovich, vice president and regional general manager for Walmart. “Increasing the use of solar energy is a benefit for the environment and makes business sense, as well.”

The three SoCal installations are but a small step forward in the big-box chain’s solar plan in the Golden State, which it launched in May 2007. Wal-Mart announced an expanded initiative on Earth Day (April 22), which it hopes will double its use of solar energy in the state. Ten to 20 solar installations at its various California stores are in the pipeline for the upcoming year, with the hope that each installation will provide up to 30 percent of the facility’s energy needs. Wal-Mart expects its California solar program to generate up to 32 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year and avoid over 10,000 metric tons of emissions a year. Ambitious, but with Wal-Mart’s bank account, doable? Most likely.

While its carbon footprint is probably still far from what we might call ideal, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to fault the retail behemoth for its energy usage. Dare we say it? From an environmental energy standpoint, it’s no longer cool to hate Walmart.