Walmart, Tesla working to settle lawsuit after solar panel fires

Walmart and Tesla are working toward settling a recent lawsuit brought by the department store giant against the energy company for solar panels that Walmart said caused fires at seven different stores.

On Tuesday, Walmart filed a Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit to terminate a contract with Tesla for solar panels at 244 stores after the panels, they claim, started fires on the roofs of seven different stores in various states from 2012 to 2018.

Things came to a head when three different stores caught fire in the Spring of 2018, prompting Tesla to “de-energize” all the panels at Walmart sites.

The parties Friday said they are trying to resolve the issues so they panels can go back online.

“Walmart and Tesla look forward to addressing all issues and re-energizing Tesla solar installations at Walmart stores, once all parties are certain that all concerns have been addressed,” Walmart and Tesla said in a joint statement.

“Together, we look forward to pursuing our mutual goal of a sustainable energy future. Above all else, both companies want each and every system to operate reliably, efficiently, and safely.”

The lawsuit claimed that there were systemic issues with installation and inspections of the panels that if put back online “would create an immediate and imminent risk of injury and harm to Walmart, its customers, its employees, and its property.”