In 2013, Walmart announced its intention to construct a new, 185,000 foot retail “Supercenter” store on an undeveloped tract of land in Victorville. The City of Victorville’s General Plan contained a provision requiring all new commercial or industrial developments to generate on-site electricity from renewable sources to the maximum extent feasible. The General Plan also required such projects to exceed Title 24 energy efficiency standards by 15 percent. Walmart said it would consider adding solar panels to the roof of its new store, and it would strive for energy efficiency, but it would not commit to either.
A local community organization filed suit under CEQA, arguing that the City’s EIR failed to adequately analyze the project’s impacts on greenhouse gas emissions or its consistency with these general plan requirements. The court agreed. The Walmart was still built, but today, it has higher energy efficiency, rooftop solar, and parking lot solar shades thanks to CEQA and the community members who ensured that the law was followed.