Energy

Energizing Solutions for Sustainability

Ceres works with companies, investors, regulators and public interest groups to disclose and address the environmental, social and economic risks of the energy sources we use to power our economy. We work with these groups to advance innovative solutions that will reduce carbon emissions, increase energy efficiency measures and use of renewable energy sources and improve power grid technologies to deliver cleaner energy in better ways.

A Close Examination of the Clean Energy Transition in Select U.S. States

Ceres' November 2011 report, New Jobs - Cleaner Air: An investment in American Businesses and American Jobs, highlighted specific case examples of the companies involved in building a modern generating fleet. It examined the component pieces of the supply chain and explored the vital role that American workers play in installing and maintaining sophisticated emissions control systems.

Much has changed since November, most notably the market forces that have driven down the price of natural gas to historic lows and sped up the retirement and retrofit of America's oldest power plants. This follow up interactive presentation (above) supplements our earlier work by highlighting specific states where the electric power sector is going through a significant transition that is unleashing investment, reducing emissions, generating jobs and creating a cleaner electric power fleet to power our homes, businesses and communities.

See more interactive presentations highlighting other states here.

The 21st Century Electric Utility

The energy demands of the 21st century are radically different than those of the past. Fossil fuels like oil and coal are becoming harder to secure and inevitable carbon reduction policies are motivating many companies to look for cleaner ways to power our factories, offices and homes.

Investors are becoming increasingly concerned with the long-term value of their portfolios and pressuring utilities to become more transparent about the long-term effects of climate change, water scarcity and other sustainability risks for the electric power industry.

At the forefront of the clean energy movement, Ceres has:

• Organized major businesses to call for innovative policy solutions at the state, national and global level. The Ceres-led Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP) includes major brands like Nike, Starbucks, Target, Best Buy and eBay
• Defined best practices for the U.S. power sector through the report The 21st Century Electric Utility: Positioning for a Low-Carbon Future
• Organized investors controlling $2.5 trillion in assets to call on oil and insurance companies to disclose risk management strategies to prevent future deepwater drilling spills
• Spearheaded investor efforts to push the oil industry to reduce the harmful impacts of Canadian oil sands production
• Led direct engagements with electric power, oil & gas, and transportation companies through Ceres stakeholder team process to improve sustainability performance and disclosure

For more information

Read articles, download reports and listen to podcasts about energy issues listed on the right-hand side of this page.