In this quick chat, ESG Talk host Andie Wood provides an update on the European Sustainability Reporting Standards — new reporting rules companies will need to follow to comply with the CSRD — and explores their connection to the concept of double materiality.
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Global nonprofit organizations chosen for grants support range of humanitarian causesBaker Hughes’ employee resource groups bring employees together based on personal characteristics, life experiences and shared interests
HOUSTON, November 6, 2023 /3BL/ – The Baker Hughes Foundation announced Monday a total of $750,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations that promote our values and support local communities. For the third consecutive year – and in support of the Baker Hughes Foundation’s mission to promote education, opportunity, diversity, equity and inclusion – the recipient NPOs were nominated by Baker Hughes global employee resource groups (ERGs). This grant also supports Baker Hughes’ commitment to advancing the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – specifically SDG 10 to reduce inequalities.
Baker Hughes believes unique ideas and perspectives fuel innovation, and our differences make us stronger. Our eight ERGs bring employees together based on personal characteristics, life experiences and shared interests, and are pivotal in driving employee engagement and volunteerism in our global communities. These groups have built strong partnerships with many nonprofits across the globe to drive social change for some of the world’s toughest challenges, including education, opportunity and equality.
Collectively, these grants will support an array of causes in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. Below are the charities awarded grants to drive impact in their communities:
The Multicultural ERG nominated Nurturing Minds in Africa to support quality education, life skills, and entrepreneurship to help girls in Tanzania become leaders in their communities.The Women’s Network nominated Days for Girls to support increasing access to menstrual care and education and Girls Inc. of Greater Houston to increase opportunities and rights for all girls.The LatinX ERG nominated Global Mentorship Initiative to help students and refugees find their first job, and Fundación VASED,which aids in fostering projects that promote social innovation and the use of technology.The Black Employee Network nominated LOROS Hospice to support the mission to provide free, high-quality, compassionate care and support to terminally ill adult patients, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to advance cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.The Asian Pacific American Forum nominated Companies for good to support children with special needs and the United Way of Hyderabad to empower women and equip them with the skills to work and educate the next generation.The Enabled ERG nominated Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect), which aims to provide the best opportunities for people on the autism spectrum by celebrating their strengths, interests and aspirations.The Pride@Work ERG nominated Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Humsafar Trust to support LGBTQ+ community rights, equality and inclusion.The Veterans ERG nominated Folds of Honor Foundation to provide scholarship opportunities for military and first responder families and the Society of American Military Engineers Foundation to foster engineering leadership for the nation.
“I’m proud of our rich cultural diversity around the globe and how much our employees care about strengthening our communities,” said Baker Hughes’ Chief Culture and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer and Baker Hughes Foundation Trustee Nicole Durham. “Employee resource groups are just one of the many ways we are able to cultivate an inclusive culture and address the diverse needs within communities.”
To learn more about Baker Hughes’ work in supporting its communities, visit our Corporate Responsibility website.
About the Baker Hughes Foundation:
For 25 years, the Baker Hughes Foundation has been a steward of charitable resources for meaningful community impact. The Foundation seeks to advance environmental quality, education, health, safety, and wellness around the world by supporting organizations with shared values, demonstrated leadership, evidence of impact, financial soundness, and the capacity to implement initiatives and evaluate their success. The Baker Hughes Foundation makes strategic philanthropic contributions, matches Baker Hughes employee contributions, and awards volunteer recognition grants for outstanding employee community service.
About Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.
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For more information, please contact:
Media Relations
Adrienne M. Lynch
+1 713-906-8407
adrienne.lynch@bakerhughes.com
We’re leading by example through responsible operations, reimagining our systems and taking action to have a restorative impact on the environment.
The opportunity: Our manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico, produces Trane heating, cooling and ventilation products, including HVAC units and components. The Monterrey region is facing ever increasing water and energy shortages, presenting a significant operational challenge and serving as a reminder of the importance of our 2030 Sustainability Commitments.
The solutions: Focus on absolute energy consumption reduction and becoming net positive with water use by:
developing a rainwater recovery system to supplement ongoing condensed water collectioninstalling a wastewater treatment facilityinstalling solar-powered rooftop photovoltaic battery storage systems across the site’s three plants: the largest project of isolated supply in Mexico
Sustainability outcomes:
anticipated annual clean energy production of 10,000 MWh, reducing energy consumption by an additional 45%anticipated annual net positive water consumption of an estimated 1,053 m3ISO 50001, 18001, 14001, 9001 and U.S. Department of Energy Superior Energy Performance certifications
As extreme drought and rising temperatures result in increasing restrictions on water and energy use in Monterrey City, Mexico, the team at our Trane Monterrey facility is leading the way to create sustainable solutions for its operations.
Working across a three-plant worksite that spans over 538,000 square feet under one roof, the Monterrey site has long been committed to responsible operations. In 2015, the plants were chosen as a site for a Georgia Tech pilot program in energy management system implementation under a Mexico and US Departments of Energy partnership. That momentum, along with our initial climate commitments, propelled the team into dedicated strategic action, significantly reducing the site’s overall energy consumption. By 2018, the Monterrey facility had received ISO 50001 and Superior Energy Performance (SEP) certifications.
Today, guided by Trane Technologies’ 2030 Sustainability Commitments and pledge to reach net-zero by 2050, the Monterrey site’s 1000+ employees are working together in pursuit of absolute energy consumption reduction. And with increasing water vulnerability in their region, the team is also taking bold action to become net positive in water consumption.
Taking the next right step
The Monterrey site’s responsible energy management relies on continuous improvement, strategic project development and implementation and company culture. To reduce energy waste, the team has invested in significant upgrades and replacements in leak testers, illumination technology, roofing and air compressors. Additionally, 5-minute interval data reports monitor consumption behaviors and energy performance, allowing for continual improvement of the existing systems.
But meeting the superior energy performance standard was not enough for an organization committed to leading the way. In an ambitious step towards net-zero, the team recently implemented their largest energy project to date: the installation of photovoltaic panels to generate clean energy on site.
Part of an $18 million plant expansion investment, the newly installed solar panel array is the largest project of isolated battery-powered supply in Mexico. In total, close to 10,000 panels have been installed across Monterrey’s three plants, with plans to be producing energy in 2024. Once operational, the panels will supply close to 10,000 MWh of energy annually, approximately 45% of the total energy consumed by the three plants each year.
Sustainability is the strategy
Meanwhile, the team is rapidly moving forward on another bold strategic project, this time to address the growing water crisis in northern Mexico. Already considered a region of high-water vulnerability, Monterrey’s annual precipitation will likely decrease by roughly 18% by 2030, according to experts’ predictions.
Water recovery is an ongoing strategy in the team’s sustainability efforts. Nearly 17,000 m³ of condensed water have been collected from the plants’ HVAC units since 2016. As a follow-on measure, the team installed in 2021 a rainwater harvesting system to supplement those efforts. Together, the rainwater and condensed water systems collect approximately 6,000 m³ per year.
To realize a net positive operation for water consumption, the site embraced the next tier of water use evolution to a different scale. That’s why the team has spent the past year planning for the installation of a biological sanitary wastewater treatment plant on site. The plant receives wastewater and sanitary drainage from the site’s restrooms and cafeteria. During treatment, aerobic and anaerobic biological processes remove biodegradable, soluble, organic and nutrient substances, and colloids from the wastewater. The recycled water can then be used in on-site business operations.
Product manufacturing across the three plants requires the consumption of approximately 6,190 m³ of water annually. The proposed water treatment plant would produce approximately 7,248 m³ of recycled water, allowing all production to be net positive for water consumption and leading the way to Trane Technologies’ 2030 net positive water commitments.
“We are looking for continuity in the business, which is why a Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant was the next right step in addressing the scarcity of this vital resource,” explained Rigoberto Mena, Maintenance and Facilities manager for Trane Monterrey. “Besides our condensed and rainwater recovery systems that save up to 30% of our consumption for our processes we needed a solution that would bring us closer to our net-zero goal.”
The benefits of the wastewater treatment project extend far beyond significant environmental impact: By lessening the water demands of its site, the team also reduces the economic risks of water supply cut-offs or ecological taxes and fines. Preserving clean water for the people of Monterrey strengthens the workforce and uplifts the local community. And the surplus of recycled wastewater can even be donated back to the government for redistribution, impacting the region at large.
Turning ambition into action
Leading by example in sustainability doesn’t happen overnight. Rigoberto Mena, maintenance and facilities manager for Trane Monterrey, credits much of the team’s success to the company’s annual five-year strategic planning process. Using the Hoshin Kanri method, they set out three- and five-year objectives, development and action plans and metrics, all in pursuit of contributing to Trane Technologies’ 2030 Sustainability Commitments.
Small, daily choices also contribute to a culture of sustainability. Visual reminders and ongoing discussions constantly remind employees of ideal energy-saving behaviors. And systems like the Energy Suggestions Mailbox, built to encourage and capture employee’s ideas and solutions, underscore the value of teamwork and shared purpose. According to Tania Guerrero, supervisor in Control Engineering and Strategic Projects, many of the most effective ideas have emerged directly from Rigoberto and his maintenance team.
“Rigoberto Mena has been a pioneer in the Monterrey plant with the establishment of our energy management system in 2016,” Tania said. “We are proud to say that thanks to all of the crucial work from the maintenance team with water saving and energy efficiency projects and his leadership of our culture of sustainability, we know we have made an impact on our progress toward our sustainability commitments and our net-zero objectives.”
Not surprisingly, the team has other big projects and goals on the horizon, including LEED Certification, converting air handlers to variable-speed, installing ice storage systems, cogeneration and Tesla batteries for energy storage from the new solar panels, among others.
With a collaborative culture of possibility, it’s clear that the Monterrey team will continue to lead the way in meeting global challenges with bold thinking, strategic commitments and decisive action, transforming the industry in ways that are better for business – and the planet.
November 4, 2023 /3BL/ – Ceres today welcomed the finalization of new guidance from the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) that would enhance the supervision and regulation of certain non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) that play a pivotal role in strengthening the financial ecosystem. Ceres also welcomed the finalization of the Analytic Framework for Financial Stability Risk Identification, Assessment, and Response.
Among the important features of the Interpretive Guidance on Authority to Require Supervision and Regulation of Certain Nonbank Financial Companies:
Eliminates obstacles to supervision of NBFIs put in place in 2019, such as the requirement to assess the likelihood of a firm’s material financial distress. The guidance clarifies that a NBFI’s high-risk activities can justify its designation as “systemically important,” regardless of likely financial distress.
Establishes the criteria on which the FSOC will rely in making designations. These criteria, set forth in the Analytic Framework, will provide NBFIs facing potential designation with clear signals about risk reduction measures that may be needed to avoid federal supervision.
Clarifies that the FSOC’s Systemic Risk Committee is responsible for regular monitoring and reporting about NBFIs that may pose a risk to financial stability.
“We fully support the finalized FSOC guidance and analytic framework,” said Steven Rothstein, managing director of the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets at Ceres. “Many large non-bank financial institutions are failing to adequately prepare for the rapid decarbonization of the US economy and intensification of physical and transition climate impacts. This new guidance will allow for an easier designation of these institutions as systemically important, ensuring that the Federal Reserve can supervise and enforce safety measures before they can cause widespread and long-lasting harm to our financial system.”
Earlier this year, Ceres sent submitted comments to the FSOC on the proposed guidance on Systemically Important Financial Institution (SIFI) determinations for NBFIs and the proposed financial stability analytic framework. The full comment submission can be viewed here.
Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. The Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets is a center of excellence within Ceres that aims to transform the practices and policies that govern capital markets to reduce the worst financial impacts of the climate crisis. It spurs action on climate change as a systemic financial risk—driving the large-scale behavior and systems change needed to achieve a net zero emissions economy through key financial actors including investors, banks, and insurers. The Ceres Accelerator also works with corporate boards of directors on improving governance of climate change and other sustainability issues. For more information, visit ceres.org and ceres.org/accelerator and follow @CeresNews.
Media Contact: Diane May, dmay@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 220
Eliminating hunger has been a global priority for decades, but systemic shocks including wars and armed conflicts, the Covid-19 pandemic, trade restrictions, supply chain issues, inflation, and currency instability, have recently led to heightened rates of food insecurity. For many people around the world, the price of food has increased. The situation is often worse for smallholder farmers, who are also dealing with the rising cost of farming inputs, like fertilizer, and thus have less harvest to consume and sell.
Through its 2023 High Impact Fund, and with the financial support from the Kasperick Foundation, Whole Planet Foundation has approved 3 projects to improve food security within vulnerable populations. Each project is with an existing Whole Planet Foundation partner and is marked by its focus on improving nutrition for at-risk people, its prioritization of financially excluded demographics, and its layered and forward-thinking impact. Learn more about each of the 3 projects below.
Acceso – A Whole Planet Foundation partner in Colombia, South America, since 2022
Acceso’s ‘farmer first’ model equips smallholder farmers with the tools they need, buys their harvest, and sells it to domestic and international markets. By providing these farmers with crop market analyses, financial advice, weather data, training in good agricultural practices, and farming inputs, farmers improve their productivity and profits.
Through this 2023 High Impact Fund award, Acceso has committed to buying produce from its network of smallholder farmers, which will be donated to an NGO working on the Colombian-Venezuelan border. This NGO, Nueva Ilusión, specializes in providing health and nutrition services to passing migrants making the long and dangerous trek. Nearly 90% of Venezuelan families do not earn enough money to buy the food they need and, as a result, over 7 million people have fled the country, many bound for Colombia, where currently 2.5 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants have resettled and thousands more are crossing the border every day. Through this project, Acceso and Nueva Ilusión will supply daily meals to hungry migrant families that have few alternatives on their arduous journey.
Project impact:
56,160 meals distributed to Venezuelan migrant families, benefitting approximately 32,760 people (50% children)Produce purchased from approximately 40 smallholder farmers with less than 3 hectares, providing them with new earned income to improve their own food insecurity.
Wakili – A Whole Planet Foundation partner in Guinea, West Africa, since 2018.
Wakili (meaning “willingness & perseverance”) is a social microfinance organization with the aim to sustainably improve the living conditions of vulnerable households. In the first project together, Whole Planet Foundation provided $300,000 of funds to support Wakili’s growth and scale of their main microenterprise products. In the second project together, Whole Planet Foundation has authorized a total of $600,000 to support microenterprise and agriculture loan products across 4 new branches.
Whole Planet Foundation support under the second project includes an especially remote area called Guinea Forestière. As Wakili has become active here, they found that 85.5% of the inhabitants have experienced food insecurity over the past 12 months. 38% of children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition; a statistic very close to the critical threshold defined by the World Health Organization of 40%.
Through this high impact project, Wakili will fight against child malnutrition by providing meals to 1,000 children in the area, through a school catering service run by small, women-led “canteen” businesses. The canteen’s food will be sourced from contracted local rice producers. These farmers will receive technical assistance and small loans for the diversification of their production and the purchase of small equipment, so they can farm year-round. Finally, parents of the school children will also participate in meetings on the importance of a varied and balanced diet.
Project impact:
180,000 nutrient-rich meals distributed to 1,000 children (lunch during every school day).500 loans + farming training sessions given to farmers providing the food for the school meals.100 training sessions given to school children’s parents.
Buusaa Gonofaa – A Whole Planet Foundation partner in Ethiopia, East Africa, since 2015.
Buusaa Gonofaa is a microfinance institute that offers loans and collects savings in rural and impoverished areas of Ethiopia. They target women, small farmers, and landless young people in particular, and 65% of their loan portfolio is for the agriculture sector. Ethiopia has staggering rates of food insecurity, due to climate extremes, regional armed conflict, and periods of blocked humanitarian aid.
This project will provide goats to women in poor households, to boost their assets and income opportunities. Buusaa Gonofaa will organize 160 women in Savings Groups of 16-20 women each.
In Year 1, 80 of the women will receive 5 goats each (1 male and 4 female); about a year later, those 80 women that received goats will then transfer the goats’ offspring to the remaining members, until all 160 members have received goats. Each member will receive training in goat rearing and will have access to veterinary services. The project will also mitigate risk by having each member keep enough cash savings, in a group account maintained at Buusaa Gonofaa, to be able to pay the price of one goat in case of death or loss of the goat for any reason. Finally, the group members will have direct financial linkage with Buusaa Gonofaa’s savings and credit services to meet other long-term financial needs.
Project impact:
160 women (with an estimated total of 800 family members) will receive 5 goats each, which will provide them with improved nutritional security through goat milk. Each goat will provide about 0.5 to 2 liters of milk per day for 3 to 5 months; this provides a very important source of much-needed nutrition, especially for undernourished children.The goats will also serve as an income-generating asset that will improve these households financial resilience.All participants in this goat rotating credit initiative will be women, and half of the participants will be female heads of their households.
This fund is so dear to us, as it allows us to address the pressing needs of our partners, outside of our traditional mandate. While Whole Planet Foundation funds are typically reserved to support microloans or productive assets for people living in poverty, our High Impact Fund allows us to fund other innovative initiatives.
Follow Whole Planet Foundation on Instagram for updates from the field, as our Regional Directors visit on-the-ground, active partners annually.
For its efforts to support holistic associate well-being, Bread Financial™’s LivingWell program recently won a Ragan Workplace Wellness Award, which celebrates the organizations, people and teams that have made significant strides in improving their employees’ health and well-being, with a focus on physical, mental, financial and social wellness.
Chosen from a large pool of applicants, LivingWell was named the overall winner in the Financial Wellness category. LivingWell, which provides a variety of low to no-cost tools, resources and support to help Bread Financial associates and their families feel balanced, energized and optimistic about their personal journeys, recognizes financial confidence as a critical piece of total well-being.
“I’m thrilled to be recognized by an industry-leader like Ragan, as this award highlights the tremendous strides we’ve made to help our associates feel more confident about their finances,” said Lindsay Madaras, senior manager of associate well-being, Bread Financial. “Money can be a significant source of stress, so we provide a variety of no-cost resources to help associates reach their personal financial goals. We do this through benefits such as BrightPlan, a financial wellness solution that provides unlimited access to a financial planner, on-demand education, coaching and advice, and monthly “Dollars & Sense” workshops that cover important topics like budgeting, managing debt and improving credit scores.”
I’m thrilled to be recognized by an industry-leader like Ragan, as this award highlights the tremendous strides we’ve made to help our associates feel more confident about their finances.”
Lindsay Madaras – Senior Manager of Associate Well-being, Bread Financial
“Congratulations to Bread Financial,” said Brendan Gannon, senior marketing manager of awards and programs, PR Daily. “Creating a healthy and supportive workplace culture is critical to the success of any organization, and Bread Financial has demonstrated a true commitment to the well-being of its employees. Ragan is proud to recognize your efforts.”
Under the pillars of Self-Care, Emotional Wellness, Financial Confidence and Life Events, LivingWell supports more than 7,500 global associates. Earlier this year, it also took home two platinum-level distinctions for its programming.
About Bread Financial™
Bread Financial™ (NYSE: BFH) is a tech-forward financial services company providing simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions. The company creates opportunities for its customers and partners through digitally enabled choices that offer ease, empowerment, financial flexibility and exceptional customer experiences. Driven by a digital-first approach, data insights and white-label technology, Bread Financial delivers growth for its partners through a comprehensive suite of payment solutions that includes private label and co-brand credit cards and Bread Pay™ buy now, pay later products. Bread Financial also offers direct-to-consumer products that give customers more access, choice and freedom through its branded Bread Cashback™ American Express® Credit Card and Bread Savings™ products.
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Bread Financial is powered by its 7,500+ global associates and is committed to sustainable business practices. To learn more about Bread Financial, visit BreadFinancial.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
About Ragan Communications and PR Daily
Ragan Communications has been delivering trusted news, training and intelligence for more than 50 years to internal and external communicators and business executives via its conferences, webinars, training, awards, subscriptions and its membership divisions. Its daily news sites—PRDaily.com and Ragan.com—are read by more than 600,000 internal and external communicators monthly.
Enbridge has taken another significant step in the business of manufacturing and transporting renewable natural gas (RNG)—by announcing the purchase of seven operating U.S. landfill gas-to-RNG facilities from respected, experienced RNG developer Morrow Renewables.
The portfolio, worth US$1.2 billion, instantly establishes our RNG business as a North American midstream leader by volume. The carbon-neutral fuel will play a critical role in society’s cleaner energy future, and these assets complement recent Enbridge moves to grow North America’s volumes of RNG made from food waste and farm waste.
“This transaction represents a uniquely de-risked portfolio of operating and scalable RNG assets,” says Enbridge President and CEO Greg Ebel. “The landfill gas-to-RNG facilities . . . will accelerate progress toward our energy transition goals. I am pleased to welcome the Morrow Renewables team members to the Enbridge family,” adds Ebel of about 86 full-time employees in plant and field operations.
The Morrow facilities deliver RNG from municipal landfills in six Texas locations—Edinburg, Hinton, Tyler, Melissa, Longview, and Alvarado—in addition to Fort Smith, Arkansas. All are regions with growing demographics, ongoing landfill growth and strong partnerships with local municipalities.
Landfill RNG facilities collect gas produced by waste decomposition in the landfill, and treat and compress the gas to pipeline specifications.
After it’s upgraded into pipeline-grade methane, RNG is easily blended into existing natural gas distribution and transmission networks—where it can be used to fuel transit fleets, power industry facilities, and heat homes and businesses. Without these facilities, the gas would be released or flared.
These seven facilities currently produce, in aggregate, about 5 billion cubic feet of RNG per year.
All seven are in operation, with a commercial structure underpinned by long-term contracts with municipalities and offtake agreements with customers, such that the portfolio will contribute to EBITDA in 2024.
“These assets were developed by a reputable management team that’s been in the business for more than 20 years; we look forward to working with that team towards a smooth transition,” says Caitlin Tessin, Enbridge’s Vice President of Strategy and Market Innovation.
Fundamentals for RNG are strong—with indications of continued demand growth over the long term as gas utilities increasingly continue to set RNG blending targets.
Simply put, today’s acquisition advances Enbridge’s commitment to energy transition leadership by advancing new low-carbon sources of energy—such as RNG.
(TOP PHOTO: Among the seven operating RNG assets purchased by Enbridge from Morrow Renewables is the Turkey Creek energy plant in Alvarado, Texas. Photo courtesy, Morrow Renewables.)
As part of our commitment to operate sustainably, Medtronic is working to set an example for how our industry can reduce waste generated from the packaging of medical devices. And one way we do that is by making intentional design choices that optimize our use of packaging materials to avoid the unnecessary generation of waste.
The Medtronic Sustainability Development Center (SDC) continuously develops and introduces innovative and sustainable products and packaging. The team’s goal is to improve patient and community health and reduce life-cycle environmental impact. The SDC applies concepts like eco-friendly design, product circularity, and recyclability to meet and anticipate emerging regulatory requirements and to support customer requests.
By the end of our 2025 fiscal year, our ambition is to reduce packaging waste on select product linesii by 25%. While seemingly straightforward, reducing packaging waste in a highly regulated industry is anything but. Required information and packaging alone make this challenging. Let’s put the potential impact into context.
How much is 25% of packaging waste, really?
Small changes lead to a big impact. Executing on this goal is projected to lead to a reduction of approximately 130 tons of packaging material.
This amount is roughly equivalent to the weight of more than 60 cars, 400 suitcases (before they’re packed!), or about 2,000 iPads.
And we’re just getting started. The next step in this waste reduction journey is looking further into product circularity and life cycle design. This could be keeping product packaging in use for as long as possible or recovering packaging materials to make new packaging.
And when it comes to sustainability commitments, packaging waste is just one piece of the puzzle. There are a number of ways we’re working to influence sustainability in our industry and reduce our environmental impact. You can learn more about our commitments to the planet here and in our 2023 Sustainability Report.
*Internal Medtronic data
ii The product lines include: Tri-Staple; Polysorb; Absorbatack; Spinal Implants; and Pulse Oximeter
November 3, 2023 /3BL/ – Ceres applauds the Michigan House of Representative for passing ambitious clean energy legislation today, putting the state on the verge of adopting a 100% clean electricity standard by 2040 and several other important policies to grow clean energy investment and jobs. The action in the House comes a week after the Michigan Senate passed its version of the legislation.
“Michigan is on the verge of finalizing one of the most ambitious clean electricity laws in the country, positioning the state to capitalize on its manufacturing legacy and strong industrial base to attract clean energy investment,” said Alli Gold Roberts, senior director of state policy, Ceres. “Companies across Michigan support this legislation to confront climate change, reduce utility bills, and maximize the tax incentives and programs from recent federal legislation. We urge the legislature to finalize this historic clean energy package as quickly as possible so that Gov. Whitmer can sign it into law.”
The House also passed legislation related to clean energy siting. Ceres strongly urges the Senate to adopt these bills, which serve as a model for a responsible permitting process that will accelerate the clean energy build-out while accounting for community input.
Ceres has worked with companies and investors to support Michigan’s clean energy legislation throughout the ongoing legislative session. In September, 15 businesses signed a letter to lawmakers and Gov. Grethen Whitmer declaring their support for an accelerated transition to 100% clean electricity that prioritizes jobs, equity, and affordability, and that helps Michigan maximize recent federal climate and clean energy investments.
“Passing legislation to achieve 100% clean energy while prioritizing affordability, equity, and job creation is an important step toward building a more just net zero economy that will enhance the vitality, competitiveness, and growth of our state,” the letter said. It was signed by Bell’s Brewery, Brewery Vivant, Broad Leaf Brewery + Spirits, CleanCapital, Crystal Mountain Resort, IKEA US, New Belgium Brewing, Nexamp, REI, Sealed, Siemens, Trane Technologies, Uplight, Walker-Miller Energy Services, and Worthen Industries.
The legislation has passed the House and now sits with the Senate for concurrence. It would codify into law many aspects of Gov. Whitmer’s MI Healthy Climate Plan, which was released in 2022 and was also welcomed by Michigan businesses as an important tool to guide climate, public health, and economic development policy in the state.
Companies increasingly support clean energy policies not only to reduce climate pollution that threatens their operations, but because they bring significant business and economic benefits. According to a recent analysis conducted by 5 Lakes Energy and the MI Energy Innovation Business Council, the legislation would create nearly 160,000 jobs, increase Michigan’s GDP 2.5% by 2050, and save households $145 in energy costs annually by 2035.
Media Contact: Helen Booth-Tobin, booth-tobin@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 214
By Candace Higginbotham
United Way campaigns are underway throughout the Regions Bank footprint.
The bank has a long history with the organization. During last year’s campaign, Regions contributed $7.2 million to more than 150 United Way agencies across our footprint. And $5.1 million of that came from Regions associates.
Regions associates also provide thousands of hours of volunteer time at United Way agencies each year.
But many associates take it one step further and put their passion, leadership and organizational skills to work to support their local campaigns.
We wanted to hear from some of these United Way influencers and learn what drives them to serve at this level and why more of us should consider taking part. These are their words:
Cleo Crawford, Learning and Development specialist, Birmingham, Alabama
How It Started
I began volunteering about 10 years ago through Regions and met Susan Clowdus and Lee Ann Petty. They took me under their wing and encouraged me to get more involved with the United Way. Until that time, I didn’t realize how much the United Way of Central Alabama does for the surrounding counties and communities. The UWCA plays a role in almost every aspect of our community. They are not there just during a crisis, but they are there to assist in everyday needs.
During the summer of 2020, my father got sick unexpectedly and was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. My family was introduced to the Alabama Kidney Foundation, which is a United Way agency that serves kidney patients. We lost my dad the next year, but I am forever grateful that they were able to assist us when we needed it. Until my dad’s sickness, my family never used a United Way agency. But that experience made me even more committed to the United Way.
I believe in giving back with my time as well as my money. I also believe in teaching our children to become advocates and volunteers as soon as possible so that they have a greater appreciation of mankind and an understanding that it takes a village to make life better.
How It’s Going
I served as a United Way loaned executive during the 2020 campaign, which was an awesome and challenging experience. Because of COVID, we had to pivot and do most meetings virtually – a first experience for all of us. I was also selected to be a loaned executive for the 2022 Pacesetter Campaign, and that was even more challenging because of the large fundraising target. But we surpassed our goal!
Being a loaned executive is a great experience for professional development and leadership. It’s an opportunity to stretch yourself and strengthen your communication skills. You spend so much time with your team and get to make lasting connections and friendships. You also hear stories from individuals and families who have utilized United Way agencies. Those are heart-breaking, but for me it reaffirmed my dedication.
Another pivotal event in my United Way history was being invited to the first meeting of the J. Mason Davis Leadership Society, a United Way affinity group for African American members with a common passion to positively influence our communities through volunteerism, advocacy, and philanthropy. When I heard Mr. Davis speak, I knew I had to be a part of keeping his legacy going strong. He is a living icon to the African American community in Birmingham with a strong passion for early childhood education to give our young people better opportunities. Now I’m proudly serving as chairperson of the J. Mason Davis Leadership Society.
How You Can Help
I highly recommend that Birmingham-area Regions associates get involved with the J. Mason Leadership Society or other local United Way affinity groups. And no matter where you are in the footprint, you can be a part of the Visiting Allocation Team program to learn more about the different programs and how they are benefiting our community. It is a great way to get directly involved in helping determine how donor dollars are being invested.
Maggie Gilcrease, Treasury Managment Relationship Team advisor, Sheveport, Lousiana
How It Started
I’m currently in my ninth year as Shreveport/Bossier City campaign chair, supporting the United Way of Northwest Louisiana. During those first campaigns I led, I learned so much about this organization and it made me think about the services they provide for families in our community. I couldn’t help but think about my own childhood.
I grew up in Bossier City with a single father who loved us and did the best he could, but he had a severe addiction to alcohol. We lived in roach-infested roadside motels for many years. When I was 10, I was left at home during the day to see after my 2-year-old baby brother while my daddy went to work. We often didn’t have enough to eat, and we bought our clothes at Goodwill. When I became a United Way campaign chair and saw first-hand how the organization helps families in need, I couldn’t help but wonder how our lives could have been different if we had known about the help that was available.
That’s my motivation for continuing to support and provide leadership to the United Way – the opportunity to provide families with addiction treatment, health care, nutritious meals and other services to help ensure their children thrive and become successful.
How It’s Going
In 2020 I was named a recipient of the Live United award – the highest honor from the United Way for advocacy, volunteerism and fundraising. I was so thrilled to be invited to the Celebration of Impact event and dinner, but COVID interrupted those plans. It was still exciting to win the award!
Besides the campaign work, I also lead our efforts in the local United Way Day of Caring. This year we had 21 team members participate – the most we’ve ever had.
The community impact is very important, but through my work with United Way I’ve been able to meet other Regions associates I would have never been able to meet otherwise. I have also formed great friendships with a couple of the United Way Campaign leaders. It’s been a really great experience all around.
How You Can Help
I really encourage all associates to get involved in some way. I know not everyone can get away to volunteer during work hours but visit the website for your local chapter to find weekend and after-hours opportunities. It’s such fulfilling work.
Austin Eng, Highland Associates, Birmingham, Alabama
How It Started
I have been involved with the United Way of Central Alabama since I joined Highland Associates two years ago. I have always been one to give back to the community. In high school, I ran my own charitable project and went on to lead institutional changes to mental healthcare at my university. I twice proposed projects to tackle global issues by participating the in the Clinton Global Initiative University.
My desire to serve is directly connected to my family history. I was born at 27 weeks and required a great deal of medical intervention and time in the hospital. If I lived, doctors predicted that I would not function normally and would need much assistance. Aside from the emotional strife my parents endured, the medical bills also created a significant financial hardship. Community foundations in our area leveraged their donations to erase my family’s medical debt.
I am a believer that to whom much is given, much is expected. To me, giving back to my community just makes sense. And in my opinion, the United Way presents the best opportunity to do that.
I see my service with UWCA as an extension of the higher mission of Highland Associates and Regions Bank – to make life better. I feel like I am serving the same communities that my clients do (Highland mainly serves not-for-profit hospitals and charitable organizations). Tangentially, investing in our communities is akin to investing in future opportunities, especially when our communities are our customers.
How It’s Going
I chaired our United Way campaign the past two years, including the current one. This past year, I joined a Visiting Allocation Team and the Young Philanthropists Society.
Up until my involvement with UWCA, I was somewhat skeptical about contributing to non-profit organizations. Learning about and working with UWCA proved me wrong. The lengths to which UWCA conducts due diligence on the deployment of their funding is really impressive.
I’ve found UWCA to be efficient and effective. When I give, I know 93 cents of every dollar gifted is directly invested into our community. I know this is true from being on a Visiting Allocation Team, where we visited partner organizations and got a first-land look at their use of funds, financials and outcomes. As for effectiveness, UWCA’s results speak for themselves.
How You Can Help
In my opinion, the best way to get involved is to listen actively at your campaign meetings. For me, this was the jumping off point that led me to learn more about UWCA and to do my own research on the organization.
Eventually, I got involved and put some sweat equity into volunteering. This summer, I managed an intern, and we worked together to build community service into her development plan.
Giving a gift is personal – that is up to the individual. However, I encourage skeptics to do their own research. When you observe the work first-hand or participate in the process, giving or volunteering is a no-brainer.
Read about Scott Hartwig, Regions Commercial Banking leader and market executive, and his inspirational journey as 2023 annual community campaign co-chair for the United Way of Greater St. Louis.
