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EPA Lauds Corporate Partners for Cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Climate Leaders Program Continues to Attract New Members

Release Date: 03/22/2007
Contact Information: Dave Ryan, (202) 564-4355 / [email protected]

(Washington, D.C. - March 22, 2007) EPA today commended American Electric Power, St. Lawrence Cement and United Technologies Corp. for achieving significant greenhouse gas reductions (GHG) under EPA's Climate Leaders program. The companies also extended their commitment by pledging a second goal on measurable reductions. In addition, the agency recognized 12 corporations for announcing new reduction goals, and another 16 companies that are joining the program.

"Our Climate Leaders partners are demonstrating corporate climate change leadership by embracing energy efficiency, green power, and technological innovation as sound business investments," said EPA Deputy Administrator Marcus Peacock. "Many of the nation's leading companies are working aggressively with EPA to lower their greenhouse gas emissions in ways that advance President Bush's climate change strategy."

--American Electric Power, Columbus, Ohio, met its 2006 goal by reducing total U.S. GHG emissions by four percent from 2001 to 2006. AEP pledges to reduce total U.S. GHG emissions by six percent from 2001 to 2010.

--St. Lawrence Cement, Mont-Royal, Quebec, met its goal by reducing global GHG emissions by 16 percent per ton of cement-type product from 2000 to 2006. St. Lawrence Cement pledges to reduce global GHG emissions by 20 percent per ton of cement-type product from 2000 to 2012.

--United Technologies Corp., Hartford, Conn., met its goal of reducing global GHG emissions by 46 percent per dollar of revenue from 2001 to 2006. UTC pledges to reduce total global GHG emissions by 12 percent from 2006 to 2010.

The twelve partners announcing aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals:

--Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., St. Louis, Mo., pledges to reduce total U.S. GHG emissions by five percent from 2005 to 2010.

--Boise Cascade, Boise, Idaho, pledges to reduce total U.S. GHG emissions by 10 percent from 2004 to 2014.

--Codding Enterprises, Rohnert Park, Calif., pledges to reduce U.S. GHG emissions by 50 percent per square foot from 2005 to 2010.

--Fairchild Semiconductor, South Portland, Maine, pledges to reduce U.S. GHG emissions by 30 percent per manufacturing index (production measure) from 2003 to 2010.

--General Motors Corp., Detroit, Mich., pledges to reduce total North American GHG emissions by 40 percent from 2000 to 2010. GM achieved its initial goal by reducing total North American GHG emissions by 23 percent from 2000 to 2005.

--IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., pledges to reduce total global GHG emissions by seven percent from 2005 to 2012. IBM achieved its initial goal by reducing total global energy-related GHG emissions by an average of six percent per year and PFC emissions by 58 percent from 2000 to 2005.

--Sandy Alexander, Clifton, N.J., pledges to reduce U.S. GHG emissions by 11 percent per dollar of revenue from 2006 to 2012.

--SC Johnson, Racine, Wis., pledges to reduce total U.S. GHG emissions by 8 percent from 2005 to 2010. SC Johnson achieved its initial goal by reducing total U.S. GHG emissions by 17 percent from 2000 to 2005.

--Steelcase Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich., pledges to reduce U.S. GHG emissions by 40 percent per dollar sales from 2004 to 2009.

--The Tower Cos., North Bethesda, Md., pledge to achieve a net effect of zero GHG emissions using EPA approved methods by 2008 and maintain that level through 2012.

--The World Bank, Washington, D.C., pledges to reduce total U.S. GHG emissions by seven percent from 2006 to 2011.

--Thomas Rutherfoord Inc., Roanoke, Va., pledges to reduce U.S. GHG emissions by seven percent per employee from 2006 to 2012.

The 16 companies that have recently joined Climate Leaders as partners:

Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., St. Louis, Mo; Cherokee Investment Partners, Raleigh, N.C.; CSX Transportation Inc., Jacksonville, Fla.; Deere & Company, Moline, Ill; Duke Energy, Charlotte, N.C.; Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Mich.; Merck & Co. Inc., Whitehouse Station, N.J.; Mohawk Fine Papers Inc., Cohoes, N.Y.; National Geographic Society, Washington D.C.; NVIDIA Corp., Santa Clara, Calif.; Office Depot, Delray Beach, Fla.; PPG Industries Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa.; Stora Enso North America Corp., Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; Turner Construction Co., New York, N.Y.; WhiteWave Foods Co., Broomfield, Colo.; 3 Phases Energy, San Francisco, Calif.

Since 2002, the Climate Leaders program has provided valuable guidance and recognition to leading companies across many industries to help them develop and implement long-term comprehensive climate change strategies. EPA estimates that the goals announced to date through Climate Leaders will prevent more than 11 million metric tons of carbon equivalent emissions per year – equal to the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from more than seven million cars.

Climate Leaders partners come from a wide range of industries and constitute over nine percent of U.S. gross domestic product. Over the past five years, the program has expanded to include 113 organizations. Of these, 67 have announced aggressive long-term greenhouse gas reduction goals, while the remaining companies are working with EPA to set and announce a goal.

For more information about the Climate Leaders: epa.gov/climateleaders/partners/goalachievers.html