GHG Emissions | Page 314

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) announced on Jan. 4 that it has entered into two new 100% renewable energy contracts with BP Energy Company to reduce its carbon footprint and save more than $3 million per year.

New Jersey hospital CentraState Medical announced on Dec. 31, 2020, that it has commenced commercial operations of its additional 1.6-MW solar carport system. The installation will generate approximately 2.1 million kWh of solar electricity per year.

California was named the top state for energy efficiency targets and initiatives in a study that found that more U.S. states have adopted or advanced new energy-saving targets and vehicle and appliance rules, while Covid-19 has slowed other efficiency efforts.

Monolith Materials, a chemical and hydrogen company, announced Jan. 4 that it signed a letter-of-intent to procure enough renewable energy resources from Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) to generate two million MWh annually, keeping its Olive Creek production facility emissions-free.

Kilroy Realty Corporation (KRC), a West Coast landlord and developer, announced Jan. 4 that it achieved carbon-neutral operations at the end of 2020. In 2018, the company was the first North American real estate investment trust to make a commitment to achieve carbon-neutral operations and it accomplished its goal.

Unilever, Microsoft, Brooks, Neste and ITV, among eight other companies, are the most recent signatories of Amazon’s The Climate Pledge. 

We continue our series of presentations from the 2020 Virtual Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum with "Addressing Residual Emissions on the Path to Net Zero." Stephanie Harris, Director of Carbon Markets at 3Degrees explains that more and more organizations are recognizing the role carbon offsets can play as an instrument to address residual emissions in the near term while better criteria are developed to understand what it means to be net-zero.

Schnitzer Steel recently announced that it exceeded its 90% carbon-free electricity goal in FY 2020, five years ahead of schedule, while pursuing a more sustainable business model focused on recycling scrap metal.

Stronger partnerships will be essential for companies to reach a zero-carbon future. In this session from the 2020 Virtual Renewable Energy Forum (Winter Edition) presented by Enel Green Power (EGP), Greg Rizzo, Director of Origination for EGP, and Nathan Nissen, Principal Engineer – Sustainability at Kohler Co., discuss the key components needed to build a partnership that will lead to an effective energy strategy.

In the first of our series of presentations from the 2020 Virtual Renewable Energy Forum (Winter Edition), Vanessa Miler-Fels, Director of Energy Innovation & Impact at Microsoft discusses the company’s slate of “moonshot" goals, including the removal of 45 years of historical carbon emissions. The key – and a primary focus of innovation and funding – is data.