Sourcing Renewables | Page 138

We all know that strong partnerships are essential if we are going to succeed in collaborating to accomplish a zero-carbon future. Companies and organizations that work together in business relationships have more opportunities to increase efficiency in joint projects and partner to source from renewable energy sources. This conversation features two of the players in just such a partnership. John speaks with Nathan Nissen, Principal Engineer, Sustainability at Kohler Company, and Greg Rizzo, Director of Origination at Enel Green Power.

GM announced on Jan. 28 that it plans to become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2035, eliminating tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2040. To reach its goals, GM has committed to science-based targets, signed the Business Ambition Pledge for 1.5⁰C, and plans to source renewable energy and leverage minimal offsets or credits.

Meriden Housing Authority announced on Jan. 26 that it will install solar EV carport, rooftop and ground-mount systems at two former schools in Bristol, Connecticut, which will be converted to affordable housing. The solar will provide 100% of the future tenants' power.

Verizon announced on Jan. 28 that it has entered into a total of 13 long-term renewable energy purchase agreements (REPAs) totaling nearly 1.7 GW of renewable energy capacity since December 2019. This has made it of the largest corporate buyers of U.S. renewable energy.

The University of Richmond (UR) announced on Jan. 27 that its new Spider Solar project is online. This makes UR one of only two higher education institutions in the U.S., and the first in the Southeast, to match 100% of its electricity needs with a single solar power source. 

BNEF announced on Jan. 26 that its research shows that corporations purchased a record 23.7 GW of clean energy in 2020, up from 20.1 GW in 2019 and 13.6GW in 2018. The increase came despite the COVID-19 pandemic, a global recession and uncertain federal policy.

Celanese Corporation, a global chemical and specialty materials company, announced on Jan. 26 that it has extended a contract to incorporate a solar power component into the electricity supply mix for its acetyl intermediates chemical manufacturing facility.

Global tech company Akamai Technologies announced on Jan. 25 that it has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by sourcing more renewable energy. While 2020 traffic on the Akamai platform increased, Akamai's greenhouse gas emissions decreased.

Mastercard announced on Jan. 26 that it has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 by decarbonizing its operations and supply chains.