PLEASANTON, — a href="http://shop.safeway.com/superstore/default.asp?page=corphome">Safeway converted its entire U.S. fleet to biodiesel fuel, which should help the retailer avoid about 75 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

The company uses more than 1,000 big rigs throughout its operations. IT made the announcement Friday during a ceremony with its CEO and California's Lt. Governor.

"Thinking green can no longer be a choice in the business world when looking toward the future," said Lt. Governor John Garamendi. "Smart businesses are looking over the horizon, and understand that the risks and opportunity associated with this critical issue must be part of their overall plan to grow and to be successful in the future."

In In September, the retailer unveiled plans to install solar arrays on the roofs on 23 stores which will eventually generate 7,500 megawatts of clean energy each year -- enough to cover about 20 percent of each stores average usage.

In early 2007, Safeway became the first retail grocer in California to become an active participant in the California Climate Action Registry, which requires the monitoring, reporting and certification of its greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2005, the company announced its plans to power its 270 fuel stations, 15 San Francisco stores and two corporate campuses with 100 percent renewable energy, or roughly 78 million kilowatt hours of wind energy.