Trinity Energy’s newly commissioned, off-grid solar, battery storage, and electric vehicle (EV) charging solution at Costco Wholesale’s Mira Loma distribution center in California. (Trinity/Costco)

Elizabeth Balzani

Many Americans know the feeling of waking up on a Saturday morning to get all their shopping done at Costco for the week. America’s beloved wholesale store has now given its customers something else to celebrate: certain locations are implementing an integrated charging station that combines solar power, battery storage, and EV charging stations to sustainably charge Costco trucks.

Two of Costco’s California locations, one in Mira Loma and the other in Ontario, have partnered with Trinity Energy, a company specializing in off-grid power structures, to create these integrated charging systems. The systems work by using solar power to generate energy and using batteries to store the electricity, and equipment to convert it into a form that can ultimately charge electric vehicles, provide power, as well as provide backup power.

Although it typically takes up to a year to complete these types of off-grid energy structures, the project at Mira Loma was finished in four months. Mira Loma is the largest Costco distribution center globally, so the successful implementation of off-grid charging stations here in such a short period sets a standard and a goal for many businesses, small or large. It is increasingly important for companies to start thinking about energy solutions, as the energy crisis looms and emissions regulations tighten.

Particularly in California, regulations and requirements have become stricter. In 2022, Southern California implemented the Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) Program. WAIRE works by offering a menu of sustainable actions that warehouses can choose from to obtain points in the WAIRE system. If a warehouse does not meet the designated point value they are required to meet, then they must pay a fee. Some of the menu actions warehouses can do to earn points include installing solar panels, replacing air filters, and operating zero-emission or near zero-emission trucks.

The U.S. Department of Energy warned in its 2025 Report on Evaluating U.S. Grid Reliability and Security that if the U.S. does not move towards sustainable off-grid energy solutions, blackouts could increase by 100 times by 2030. Energy demand continues to spike as AI, data centers, and manufacturing plants grow. If energy demand keeps expanding at this rate, current grid energy supply cannot meet demand, and many Americans will suffer through blackouts or increased energy costs.

The Mira Loma and Ontario Costco sites combined will generate 100 MW of solar energy annually. This will power 20 electric Costo trucks, and will provide 11,750 hours of off-grid recharging for these vehicles. Powering these trucks will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 3 million tons every year. True to its name, Costco will be reducing cost too, as well as emissions, with its new charging systems and electric trucks. Costco’s integrated energy systems will save them about $9.8 million in regulatory fees brought on by WAIRE.

Trinity Energy’s central message is similar to Green Energy Times’ mission. Trinity aims to create energy systems that are self-reliant and sustainable, that do not depend on the energy grid for power. Similarly, Green Energy Times strives towards sustainability, clean energy usage, and energy independence.

[Editor’s note: With Green Energy Times’ recent re-location and home base now being in the Albany, New York region, I am looking forward to the opening of the new 163,000-square-foot store, which is under construction in the nearby town of Guilderland, NY, next to the Crossgates Mall. The project is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2025.]