Energy Reports http://www.ceres.org daily 1 2011-02-16T22:56:20Z Power Factor: Institutional Investors’ Policy Priorities Can Bring Energy Efficiency to Scale http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/power-factor-institutional-investors2019-policy-priorities-can-bring-energy-efficiency-to-scale Research shows climate change could impose a multi-trillion dollar burden on the global economy and contribute ten percent of overall risk within institutional investment portfolios. Institutional investors, who manage tens of trillions of dollars globally, are actively looking for ways to mitigate these climate-related risks. Energy efficiency offers one such opportunity for institutional investors to manage the risks of climate change while earning a competitive rate of return on their investment. Research shows climate change could impose a multi-trillion dollar burden on the global economy and contribute ten percent of overall risk within institutional investment portfolios. Institutional investors, who manage tens of trillions of dollars globally, are actively looking for ways to mitigate these climate-related risks. Energy efficiency offers one such opportunity for institutional investors to manage the risks of climate change while earning a competitive rate of return on their investment.

Industry analysts have estimated the potential energy efficiency investment opportunity in the hundreds of billions of dollars.However, under current market conditions, institutional investors are largely unable to finance energy efficiency projects at the scale necessary to address climate change or to meet their own internal investment criteria. At sufficient size, a market for energy efficiency loans could present an attractive investment opportunity for institutions.

]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2013-05-21T13:00:00Z Resource Power Forward: Why the World’s Largest Companies are Investing in Renewable Energy http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/power-forward-why-the-world2019s-largest-companies-are-investing-in-renewable-energy This report shows that a majority of Fortune 100 companies have set a renewable energy commitment, a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction commitment or both. The trend is even stronger internationally, as more than two-thirds of Fortune’s Global 100 have set the same commitments. Large corporations are increasingly turning to renewable energy to power their operations. Companies are investing in renewable energy because it makes good business sense: renewable energy helps reduce long-term operating costs, diversify energy supply and hedge against market volatility in traditional fuel markets. It also enables companies to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals and demonstrate leadership on broader corporate sustainability and climate commitments.

This report shows that a majority of Fortune 100 companies have set a renewable energy commitment, a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction commitment or both. The trend is even stronger internationally, as more than two-thirds of Fortune’s Global 100 have set the same commitments.

Through two dozen interviews with Fortune and Global 100 executives and analysis of public disclosures, the report finds that clean energy practices are becoming standard procedures for some of the largest and most profitable companies in the world, including AT&T, DuPont, General Motors, HP, Sprint, and Walmart.

]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2012-12-10T08:00:00Z Resource Investor Expectations for Improving Environmental & Social Performance in Canadian Oil Sands Development http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/investor-expectations-for-improving-environmental-social-performance-in-canadian-oil-sands-development A group of 49 investors with $2 trillion in assets under management are calling on Canadian oil sands developers to dramatically reduce the environmental and social impact of their operations. A group of 49 investors with $2 trillion in assets under management are calling on Canadian oil sands developers to dramatically reduce the environmental and social impact of their operations by lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, managing water use, promoting land reclamation and consulting fully with First Nations and other communities affected by oil sands projects. The investors argued that these performance improvements “should be prioritized ahead of unmitigated growth ambitions for oil sands development.”

Oil sands development is significantly more resource-intensive than traditional oil development, creating environmental and social concerns that investors argue may threaten the sector’s long-term viability and growth.

In their statement, investors specifically called on Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) to:

  • Set goals and timelines for reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of oil sands production to at least that of conventional oil production, while also providing greater disclosure on research and development efforts and supporting provincial and federal regulations that would lead to significant reductions in GHG emissions.
  • Manage water risk by setting goals and timelines for minimizing net surface and groundwater withdrawals, and keeping withdrawals within science-based ecosystem limits.
  • Reduce the rate of land disturbance and increase reclamation, provide disclosure of liabilities, establish wetlands and biodiversity offsets and accept limits to the amount of land available to oil sands development at any given time.
  • In cooperation with government authorities, fully incorporate the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent in their responsibilities to First Nations, Metis, Inuit and other communities affected by oil sands operations.
]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2012-10-22T12:50:00Z Resource Sustainable Extraction? An Analysis of SEC Disclosure by Major Oil & Gas Companies on Climate Risk and Deepwater Drilling Risk http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/sustainable-extraction-an-analysis-of-sec-disclosure-by-major-oil-gas-companies-on-climate-risk-and-deepwater-drilling-risk Disclosure of material business risk is a core underpinning of the modern global economy’s health. A new report says that investors aren’t getting a clear picture from companies of just how deep the material risks are. This report, based on annual financial filings submitted in Q1 2011 by 10 of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, finds that companies making extensive capital investments related to climate change and deepwater drilling are failing to adequately disclose their substantial material risks in areas such as new regulations, adverse environmental impacts and water availability constraints.

Investors are looking for substantial improvement in these disclosures. The SEC’s guidance for disclosure does not yet require complete, and therefore completely accurate, assessment of companies’ climate or deepwater drilling performance or risks. This report contains detailed recommendations for improving both disclosure and performance.

]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2012-08-02T11:55:00Z Resource Benchmarking Air Emissions of the 100 Largest Electric Power Producers in the United States 2012 http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/benchmarking-air-emissions-of-the-100-largest-electric-power-producers-in-the-united-states A new report on U.S. power plant emissions from the top 100 power producers demonstrates the impact of the electric power industry’s current transition to cleaner energy sources. The latest data on top 100 power producers show declining SO2, NOx and CO2 emissions and increasing use of energy efficiency and renewables.

The 2012 Benchmarking report is the eighth report in a series highlighting environmental performance and progress in the nation’s electric power sector. The report is based on 2010 generation and emissions data from the Energy Information Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, and also includes analysis of preliminary 2011 emissions data. The previous edition reported on 2008 data.

]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2012-07-31T13:45:00Z Resource Investor Risks from Oil Shale Development http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/investor-risks-from-oil-shale-development May 2012 - The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently proposed limiting federal leases for development of oil shale to Research, Development, and Demonstration (RD&D) leases instead of commercial leases. Given the many risks surrounding oil shale development, including technological uncertainties, regulatory risks, and water constraints, BLM’s proposed RD&D approach makes sense. Investors should be similarly cautious in evaluating future investment in this technology. May 2012 - The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently proposed limiting federal leases for development of oil shale to Research, Development, and Demonstration (RD&D) leases instead of commercial leases. Given the many risks surrounding oil shale development, including technological uncertainties, regulatory risks, and water constraints, BLM’s proposed RD&D approach makes sense. Investors should be similarly cautious in evaluating future investment in this technology.

]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2012-05-30T13:15:00Z Resource The Road to 2020: Corporate Progress on the Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/the-road-to-2020-corporate-progress-on-the-ceres-roadmap-for-sustainability The Road to 2020: Corporate Progress on The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability (www.ceres.org/roadto2020) assesses how U.S. businesses are progressing on sustainability and uses as a framework, The 21st Century Corporation: The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability—a guide for integrating sustainability across a company’s entire enterprise. Specifically, it evaluates where 600 large publicly traded companies stand on sustainability issues in terms of governance, stakeholder engagement, disclosure and performance. The Road to 2020: Corporate Progress on The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability (www.ceres.org/ceresroadmap) assesses how U.S. businesses are progressing on sustainability and uses as a framework, The 21st Century Corporation: The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability—a guide for integrating sustainability across a company’s entire enterprise. Specifically, it evaluates where 600 large publicly traded companies stand on sustainability issues in terms of governance, stakeholder engagement, disclosure and performance.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2012-04-25T10:40:00Z Resource Practicing Risk-Aware Electricity Regulation: What Every State Regulator Needs to Know http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/practicing-risk-aware-electricity-regulation This report is primarily addressed to state regulatory utility commissioners, who will preside over some of the most important investments in the history of the U.S. electric power sector during perhaps its most challenging and tumultuous period. This report seeks to provide regulators with a thorough discussion of risk, and to suggest an approach—“risk-aware regulation”—whereby regulators can explicitly and proactively seek to identify, understand and minimize the risks associated with electric utility resource investment. It is hoped that this approach will result in the effcient deployment of capital, the continued financial health of utilities, and the confidence and satisfaction of the customers on whose behalf utilities invest. This report is primarily addressed to state regulatory utility commissioners, who will preside over some of the most important investments in the history of the U.S. electric power sector during perhaps its most challenging and tumultuous period. This report seeks to provide regulators with a thorough discussion of risk, and to suggest an approach—“risk-aware regulation”—whereby regulators can explicitly and proactively seek to identify, understand and minimize the risks associated with electric utility resource investment. It is hoped that this approach will result in the efficient deployment of capital, the continued financial health of utilities, and the confidence and satisfaction of the customers on whose behalf utilities invest.

For more about this issue, listen to the Ceres Podcast episode with report author Ron Binz, former chairman of the Colorado Public Utility Commission and principle of Public Policy Consulting.

]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2012-04-19T14:40:00Z Resource Fuel Economy Focus: Industry Perspectives on 2020 http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/fuel-economy-focus-industry-perspectives-on-2020 In collaboration with Citi Investment Research and the Investor Network on Climate Risk, Ceres, along with Oakland University’s School of Business Administration, Baum and Associates, and Meszler Engineering Services simulated the impact that the proposed U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions program might have on the industry in 2020. The analysis is meant to provide investors with a framework for evaluating the potential industry impact from tightening regulations. In collaboration with Citi Investment Research and the Investor Network on Climate Risk, Ceres, along with Oakland University’s School of Business Administration, Baum and Associates, and Meszler Engineering Services simulated the impact that the proposed U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions program might have on the industry in 2020. The analysis is meant to provide investors with a framework for evaluating the potential industry impact from tightening regulations.

]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2012-04-04T18:30:00Z Resource New Jobs - Cleaner Air (Part II): An investment in American Businesses and American Jobs http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/new-jobs-cleaner-air-part-two In February 2011, Ceres issued a study demonstrating how new air pollution rules proposed for the electric power sector by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide long-term economic benefits across much of the United States. This report supplements this economic study by highlighting specific case examples of the companies involved in building a modern generating fleet. It breaks the supply chain into its component pieces and shows the vital role that American workers play in installing and maintaining sophisticated emission control systems. This report is a follow-up to the February 2011 study, New Jobs - Cleaner Air: Employment Effects under Planned Changes to EPA's Air Pollution Rules, which demostrates how new air pollution rules proposed for the electric power sector by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide long-term economic benefits across much of the United States in the form of highly skilled, well-paying jobs created through infrastructure investment in the nation's fleet of power plants.

This follow-up report supplements the original economic study by highlighting specific case examples of the companies involved in building a modern generating fleet. It breaks the supply chain into its component pieces and shows the vital role that American workers play in installing and maintaining sophisticated emission control systems.

State Fact Sheets

Download fact sheets detailing how investments to clean and modernize power plants create new jobs and boost the economy in the following states:

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2011-11-17T15:55:00Z Resource Benchmarking Electric Utility Energy Efficiency Portfolios in the U.S. http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/benchmarking-electric-utilities-2011 The goal of this report is to highlight the importance—and the challenges—of benchmarking electric utility energy efficiency portfolios, and to initiate a benchmarking process that will continue to evolve over time. Benchmarking allows for direct comparison of spending and energy savings across electric utility energy efficiency portfolios. This report discusses the difficulties involved in benchmarking energy efficiency portfolios, evaluates and recommends a suite of metrics, and demonstrates these metrics using a diverse set of electric utilities. The goal of this report is to highlight the importance—and the challenges—of benchmarking electric utility energy efficiency portfolios, and to initiate a benchmarking process that will continue to evolve over time. Benchmarking allows for direct comparison of spending and energy savings across electric utility energy efficiency portfolios. This report discusses the difficulties involved in benchmarking energy efficiency portfolios, evaluates and recommends a suite of metrics, and demonstrates these metrics using a diverse set of electric utilities.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2011-11-10T12:55:00Z Resource The Ceres Aqua Gauge: A Framework for 21st Century Water Risk Management http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/aqua-gauge October 2011 - This report introduces experts and newcomers alike to the Ceres Aqua Gauge™, a new framework for assessing corporate management of water risk. The report provides a broad overview of how competing freshwater demands and limits to supply are beginning to affect corporate financial performance in a range of industrial sectors. The report also identifies trends in corporate and investor responses to emerging water issues — and explains how investors can identify holdings in their portfolios more likely to be exposed to water-related risks. October 2011 - This report introduces experts and newcomers alike to the Ceres Aqua Gauge™, a new framework for assessing corporate management of water risk. The report provides a broad overview of how competing freshwater demands and limits to supply are beginning to affect corporate financial performance in a range of industrial sectors. The report also identifies trends in corporate and investor responses to emerging water issues — and explains how investors can identify holdings in their portfolios more likely to be exposed to water-related risks.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2011-10-18T07:00:00Z Resource More Jobs Per Gallon: How Strong Fuel Economy/GHG Standards Will Fuel American Jobs http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/more-jobs-per-gallon This Ceres report focuses on the economic impacts of strengthening fuel economy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards for passenger vehicles sold in the United States. The analysis finds that stronger standards—more miles and fewer emissions per gallon—would lead to greater economic and job growth, both within the auto industry and in the broader economy as a whole. This Ceres report focuses on the economic impacts of strengthening fuel economy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards for passenger vehicles sold in the United States. The analysis finds that stronger standards—more miles and fewer emissions per gallon—would lead to greater economic and job growth, both within the auto industry and in the broader economy as a whole.

Report Fact Sheets


National Fact Sheet

State Fact Sheets

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2011-07-30T05:30:00Z Resource New Jobs-Cleaner Air: Employment Effects under Planned Changes to EPA’s Air Pollution Rules http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/new-jobs-cleaner-air February 2011 - This study demonstrates how new air pollution rules proposed for the electric power sector by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide long-term economic benefits across much of the United States in the form of highly skilled, well paying jobs through infrastructure investment in the nation's generation fleet. Significantly, many of these jobs will be created over the next five years as the United States recovers from its severe economic downturn. February 2011 - This study demonstrates how new air pollution rules proposed for the electric power sector by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide long-term economic benefits across much of the United States in the form of highly skilled, well paying jobs through infrastructure investment in the nation's generation fleet. Significantly, many of these jobs will be created over the next five years as the United States recovers from its severe economic downturn.

State Fact Sheets

Download fact sheets showing how investments to clean and modernize power plants create new jobs and boost the economy in the following states:

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2011-02-01T23:35:00Z Resource Investor Risks from Development of Oil Shale and Coal-to-Liquids http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/oil-shale-coal-to-liquids December 2010 - This report shows that coal-to-liquid (CTL) and oil shale technologies face significant environmental and financial obstacles - from water constraints, to technological uncertainties to regulatory and market risks - that pose substantial financial risks for investors involved in such projects. December 2010 - This report shows that coal-to-liquid (CTL) and oil shale technologies face significant environmental and financial obstacles - from water constraints, to technological uncertainties to regulatory and market risks - that pose substantial financial risks for investors involved in such projects. Authored by David Gardiner and Associates, the Ceres-commissioned report recommends that investors closely scrutinize their portfolios for exposure to these projects and press companies leading the ventures to provide better disclosure on wide-ranging risks and steps for managing such risks.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2010-12-01T23:20:00Z Resource