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Calpers Ups Ante on Emissions, Environmental Initiatives

The board of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (Calpers), the largest U.S. pension fund with $182 billion in assets, has voted to prioritize efforts to prod car makers into adopting California’s new, stringent tailpipe emission standards. They also voted to make environmentalism a top investment priority. Calpers investment staff will evaluate the fund’s portfolio companies in terms of environmental liabilities they might pose. That means car makers and utilities will come under scrutiny because of their greenhouse gas emissions. “We expect environmental corporate stewardship to play a greater role in corporate governance over the next 10 years,” Calpers board member Priya Mathur said. Steve Westly, California’s controller and a Calpers board member, said the fund’s aggressive posture is necessary with the Kyoto protocol set to go into effect. “What’s clear is that we’re giving the staff teeth,” Westly told Reuters in an interview. to shine light on corporate environmental liabilities, improving transparency and timely disclosure of environmental impacts. “Information is a necessary tool for investors,” said Rob Feckner, Acting President of CalPERS. “Shareowners need information on environmental liabilities to make informed investment decisions and assess costs associated with the impact to the environment.” Under the plan, CalPERS will pursue […]

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Coalition Calls Current US Climate Change Policy Inadequate, Irresponsible

In letters being delivered tomorrow to the White House and the leadership of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, 33 business and environmental organizations – members of the Sustainable Energy Coalition – urge the nation’s political decision-makers “to greatly reduce [U.S.] production of greenhouse gases through a mix of policies designed to shift [U.S.] energy use away from fossil fuels and towards greatly improved energy efficiency and a vast expansion of the use of renewable energy sources.” Noting that 2004 was the fourth warmest year on record and citing a series of recent studies suggesting that global climate change may be occurring more rapidly and with more sever consequences than earlier thought, the groups warn: “[I]n spite of the consistency and severity of these warnings, the United States remains wedded to a climate policy that is based almost totally on voluntary measures, carbon sequestration, and long-term research. Such a policy is not only inadequate, it is irresponsible. “It is even more troubling that today, the day that the Kyoto Protocol goes into effect, the United States remains isolated as one of the few industrialized nations that is not a party to the document. “It is now long […]

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2005 Greenest Car List Released

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) today announced this year’s “greenest” vehicles, along with the environmental scorings of all model year 2005 cars and passenger trucks. The vehicle scores are part of ACEEE’s Green Book Online, the eighth annual edition of ACEEE’s environmental guide to cars and trucks, available online at GreenerCars.com. Honda Model, Ford Hybrid SUV Take Limelight Among Greenest Retaining the distinction as the greenest vehicle of the year is Honda’s natural gas-powered Civic GX. The hybrid-electric Honda Insight follows closely behind, with the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Corolla rounding out the top five. The most notable newcomer to this year’s list is the Ford Escape Hybrid — marking the first time ever a gasoline-powered SUV has achieved a spot among the greenest vehicles of the year. (The battery-electric Toyota RAV4 EV and Honda EV Plus previously held spots on the list until their discontinuation). Other manufacturers in the top twelve include Nissan, Pontiac, and Mazda. ACEEE’s Green Book Online provides the facts necessary to compare the new 2005 models in cars, trucks and SUVs. Vehicles are analyzed on the basis of a “Green Score,” a singular measure that incorporates unhealthy tailpipe emissions, […]

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2005 Greenest Vehicle List Released

In letters being delivered tomorrow to the White House and the leadership of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, 33 business and environmental organizations – members of the Sustainable Energy Coalition – urge the nation’s political decision-makers “to greatly reduce [U.S.] production of greenhouse gases through a mix of policies designed to shift [U.S.] energy use away from fossil fuels and towards greatly improved energy efficiency and a vast expansion of the use of renewable energy sources.” Noting that 2004 was the fourth warmest year on record and citing a series of recent studies suggesting that global climate change may be occurring more rapidly and with more sever consequences than earlier thought, the groups warn: “[I]n spite of the consistency and severity of these warnings, the United States remains wedded to a climate policy that is based almost totally on voluntary measures, carbon sequestration, and long-term research. Such a policy is not only inadequate, it is irresponsible. “It is even more troubling that today, the day that the Kyoto Protocol goes into effect, the United States remains isolated as one of the few industrialized nations that is not a party to the document. “It is now long […]

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Progressive Investor Releases Report, Investing in Solar PV: A Market at The Tipping Point

Progressive Investor Releases Report, “Investing in Solar PV.” New York, February 14, 2005 – Progressive Investor announces the release of its report, “Investing in Solar Photovoltaics: a Market at the Tipping Point.” 2004 may well be remembered as the watershed year for solar energy. It’s been a long time coming, but in this 50th anniversary of the solar cell, the industry is showing clear signs it is indeed at the tipping point toward mass commercialization. Experts say the solar PV market will grow from the current US$7 billion to US$30 billion in 2010. With annual growth rates exceeding 30%, and expanding profit margins, solar PV is in transition to becoming one of the world’s fast-growth, profitable industries. 2004 was the year the industry really took off. Together, the world’s 24 publicly traded solar companies saw their shares jump by almost 185%. Customer demand is so high that solar manufacturers are completely sold out and are ramping up to meet demand. 2005 portends to be even a bigger year, with over 20 IPOs in the works. The sector will be much bigger with many new players, and with existing players practically all reaching profitability. The companies our analysts favor for investors […]

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Progressive Investor Releases Report, ?Investing in Solar PV?: A Market at The Tipping Point

Progressive Investor Releases Report, “Investing in Solar PV.” New York, February 14, 2005 – Progressive Investor announces the release of its report, “Investing in Solar Photovoltaics: a Market at the Tipping Point.” 2004 may well be remembered as the watershed year for solar energy. It’s been a long time coming, but in this 50th anniversary of the solar cell, the industry is showing clear signs it is indeed at the tipping point toward mass commercialization. Experts say the solar PV market will grow from the current US$7 billion to US$30 billion in 2010. With annual growth rates exceeding 30%, and expanding profit margins, solar PV is in transition to becoming one of the world’s fast-growth, profitable industries. 2004 was the year the industry really took off. Together, the world’s 24 publicly traded solar companies saw their shares jump by almost 185%. Customer demand is so high that solar manufacturers are completely sold out and are ramping up to meet demand. 2005 portends to be even a bigger year, with over 20 IPOs in the works. The sector will be much bigger with many new players, and with existing players practically all reaching profitability. The companies our analysts favor for investors […]

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