Smart Energy Voices- Episode 95

Smart Energy Voices- Episode 95

Heard at Net Zero Forum: Insights from the Commercial Sector

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At its recent Net Zero Forum, Smart Energy Decisions conducted live interviews with energy customers at various stages of their decarbonization strategies. This episode of the Heard at NZF mini-series features interviews with energy customers in the commercial space. The guests are Joshua Witte, Director of Energy Sustainability and ESG at Dollar Tree stores, Rebecca Hensley, Senior Manager of Environment Programs at CSX, and Gary Hilberg, Chief Sustainability Officer at Local Bounti.

 

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

  • Dollar Tree’s first steps in sustainability [01:42]
  • Landlord and internal buy-in [06:48]
  • CSX Transportation’s emission reduction efforts [11:49]
  • Renewable diesel and alternative fuels in the rail industry [13:50]
  • Local Bounti’s sustainable commitment [17:36]
  • Sustainability progress in agriculture [25:39]

 

Dollar Tree: Reaching net-zero in value retail

In 2021, Dollar Tree began its journey toward sustainability by setting intensity-based goals. The company aimed to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 25% over the next ten years. Since then, the company has decided to commit even further and will announce in the summer of 2024 a plan to achieve net zero emissions. The plan will include setting science-based targets aligned with the Paris Accords.

Dollar Tree faces some constraints in implementing sustainability initiatives across its leased locations. While some landlords actively participate in rooftop solar and energy efficiency projects, others show minimal interest. This limited engagement from landlords adversely affects Dollar Tree's ability to pursue sustainability projects in certain areas.

Despite Dollar Tree's recent commitment to sustainability, there is low customer awareness of their ESG initiatives. The company recognizes the importance of communicating these initiatives to younger demographics, where environmental considerations significantly impact purchasing decisions. As the company adapts and communicates its sustainability efforts, it anticipates a positive impact on both its environmental footprint and its standing among conscious consumers.

CSX Transportation: Responsible freight transportation

CSX has diligently focused on enhancing efficiencies. As a significant portion of its greenhouse gas inventory is attributed to diesel fuel usage and locomotives, the company is exploring alternative fuels such as battery electric locomotives, biodiesel, renewable diesel, and hydrogen is actively underway. The goal is to create a long-term solution that balances sustainability with operational efficacy.

CSX is fully committed to embracing the transformative potential of the clean energy market. The industry is at a pivotal point, transitioning from a 200-year history dominated by coal and diesel power. The company eagerly anticipates the incorporation of battery electric locomotives, recognizing both the excitement and the challenges associated with achieving Scope 2 reduction targets.

CSX stands at the forefront of this monumental shift and is ready to tackle the challenges of this evolving market. The quest for the next energy solution promises to shape the next century for CSX, aligning with customer needs and revolutionizing the supply chain.

Local Bounti: Transparency in sustainable agriculture

Local Bounti has embedded sustainability into its core from the outset. The company's comprehensive commitment includes environmental, social, and governance sustainability. Notably, the board has publicly declared ambitious carbon commitments, aiming to grow carbon-free leafy greens by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The pursuit of science-based targets further underscores Local Bounti's dedication to aligning its goals with scientific rigor.

Local Bounti is on track, positioning itself as a leading company with science-based targets in its sights. The shift towards 100% electric facilities, especially in greenhouses, is crucial to the company’s decarbonization strategy.

Decarbonization is a competitive advantage for Local Bounti, particularly regarding reduced food waste. The extended shelf life of their products aligns with retailers' and restaurants' goals, fostering support and understanding from the consumer-facing end of the supply chain.

 

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Becky Hensley

Rebecca (Becky) Hensley is a Senior Manager, Environmental Programs at CSX Transportation, Inc., where she coordinates the CAA program and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting. She has over 25 years of experience with EHS, sustainability, and regulatory compliance. She specializes in data management solutions and cross-functional team collaboration. Before joining CSX, she worked as a consultant for a variety of transportation, manufacturing, military and government clients. Her career has specialized in environmental permitting and developing customized solutions and tools for air, water and waste compliance. 

She holds a BS in Environmental Engineering from the University of Florida and currently lives in Louisville, KY.

Connect with Gary Hilberg

While at Local Bounti, Gary Hilberg has led the business-wide integration of world-class sustainability operational integration processes for a publicly traded industry-leading controlled environmental agriculture (CEA) firm, as the company grew from one site and less than 30 employees to four production and two development sites and over 200 employees. The team implemented the first sustainability program in the CEA space using international standards (GRI and SASB) and was recognized by Business Intelligence’s 2022 Sustainability Leadership Award for Organization.

Prior to Local Bounti, Gary spent over 20 years in the energy and infrastructure sectors working a variety of facilities including data centers, fossil and renewable electricity generation assets, district cooling facilities and casinos. Gary is a licensed professional engineer (Chemical) in Texas and California.

Connect with Joshua Witte

Joshua Witte currently serves as the Director of Energy, Sustainability, and ESG for Dollar Tree Stores. In this role, he leads the strategic execution of the Sustainability program, managing utilities, energy efficiency, decarbonization, and climate change risk mitigation as part of the overall Net Zero strategy, supporting over 16,000 store and DC locations across North America.

Most recently he served as Director of Brand Maintenance and Repair for Ross Stores Inc., where he was responsible for maintaining the brand elements and image of Ross inside the physical box of the store, encompassing fixtures, graphics, signage, cosmetic repairs, contracted services and non-renovation capital projects, supporting the entire fleet of nearly 2000 stores across the country. Prior to joining Ross, he served as a Director of Retail Maintenance and Development for Samsung Electronics America for five years, where he led the strategic direction of facilities maintenance and repair for Samsung's retail footprint across North America, encompassing over 60,000 retail doors. Other previous roles include serving as the Director of Industry Programs for the Connex Association (the leading industry conference group for facilities and property management professionals), and as a long-time Project Manager for JC Penny in both facilities management and construction.

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