Wal-Mart Launches Green Jobs Council

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
(NYSE: WMT) has established a partnership with many of its leading
sustainability suppliers to facilitate the creation of green jobs in the
United States. The Wal-Mart Green Jobs Council is comprised of representatives
from throughout the retailer’s divisions, including store operations, real
estate, logistics and sustainability, and representatives from suppliers
across a variety of industries.

“We believe that creating green jobs is essential to keeping the United
States competitive in the global marketplace,” said Leslie Dach, executive
vice president of corporate affairs and government relations for Wal-Mart. “At
Wal-Mart we believe that by bringing these companies together and working
collaboratively we can help develop a larger green job workforce in this
country.”

As part of its company-wide sustainability goals, Wal-Mart is committed to
being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, creating zero waste and
selling environmentally-friendly products. The company is moving toward these
goals by using sustainable sourcing practices including energy efficiency,
waste reduction, renewable energy and lifecycle management. These initiatives
are making Wal-Mart a more sustainable company and helping create a favorable
environment for green job creation.

For example, Wal-Mart recently announced its first substantial purchase of
wind energy in the U.S. which will lead to the creation of green jobs in
Texas. The wind power will supply up to 15 percent of the retailers’ total
energy load in approximately 360 Texas stores and other facilities. This is
one example of the dozens of projects Wal-Mart is implementing across its
operations with green job creation potential.

At an inaugural meeting of the Wal-Mart Green Jobs Council, participants
identified their top catalysts for creating green jobs, including government
policies, executive leadership for sustainability programs, and market drivers
such as increased customer demand. Top barriers identified by the group
include a lack of a trained workforce and lack of access to capital,
especially in the current economic environment.

Participants are also working to more clearly define standards for green
jobs and to work collaboratively towards facilitating green job development.
More than 30 suppliers participated in the inaugural meeting, including large
and small companies such as BP Solar, Dematic, General Electric, HydroPoint
Data Systems, Lennox, ReCold, Schneider Electric, SwissLog, Systecon,
Thermastor, and Zurn.

“Wal-Mart’s Green Jobs Council is driving collaboration among a variety of
companies that are focused on America’s most valuable resource; the American
worker,” said Christopher Spain, chairman and chief strategy officer for
HydroPoint, Data Systems in Petaluma, Calif. “To overcome both rising
unemployment and dwindling natural resources, we must invest in our nation’s
workforce through the development of jobs that preserve the environment for
generations to come. I believe the goals of the Green Jobs Council are highly
achievable.”

Wal-Mart plans to convene its next Green Jobs Council meeting in
Washington, D.C., in early 2009.

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, Supercenters,
Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Club locations in the United States. The
Company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United
Kingdom and, through a joint venture, in India. The Company’s securities are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMT. More information
about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting http://www.walmartstores.com. Online
merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and
http://www.samsclub.com.

SOURCE Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.