Tag: 3BL

AUSTIN, Minn., August 3, 2023 /3BL/ – Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) has had a longstanding commitment to education for its team members, their families and the communities where it operates. Today, the Fortune 500 global branded food company is announcing a new opportunity open to eligible team members in the United States to earn their degree or complete non-degree programs for free.

Hormel Foods is partnering with Workforce Edge, a complete employee education management platform powered by Strategic Education, Inc., on this benefits expansion. This program is part of the extensive educational benefits offered to team members, including its already successful tuition reimbursement program, which has allowed thousands of Hormel Foods team members in the United States to continue their education after joining the company.

This new program, which is open to all full-time Hormel Foods team members in the United States, provides team members the opportunity to receive a company-funded associates, bachelor’s and master’s degree with Capella University and Strayer University, as well as discounts on tuition at hundreds of well-known colleges and universities throughout the United States. The program offers a wide variety of educational opportunities in various fields of study including science, technology, engineering, math, business, fine and liberal arts, psychology, criminal justice and legal, including bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. The program also includes access to 50 + general education-level courses through Sophia Learning, which are ACE recommended for college credit and are designed to be transferred to many colleges and universities.

“Hormel Foods has long supported education as an important investment in our people,” said Katie Larson, senior vice president of human resources at Hormel Foods. “Our team members are the most important part of our company, and we are excited to be able to offer them even greater access to education. It’s an opportunity for us to continue to make a real difference and further invest in the lives and careers of our people.”

In addition to this program, Hormel Foods was one of the first major companies to offer the opportunity of free college education to the dependent children of its team members. Through the Inspired Pathways program, the company provides community-college tuition while also furnishing free one-on-one college advising, financial aid support and career development opportunities. More than 1,200 students have utilized these benefits since the program’s inception in August 2020.

“Workforce Edge continues to be the education benefits administration platform of choice for many premier companies looking to gain a competitive edge by providing options for career mobility to their workforces,” said Karl McDonnell, CEO of Strategic Education. “We are excited to begin our partnership with Hormel Foods and look forward to seeing the progress of its talented employees.”

This program with no-cost degree opportunities and expanded tuition reimbursement is just one in an extended list of benefits that Hormel Foods offers its valued team members. The company has a long-standing reputation as one of the most successful food companies in the world and has received numerous honors and accolades for its integrity, philanthropy and other aspects of social responsibility. Recently, it was named one of the Best Companies to Work For in America by U.S. News & World Report, one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune, one of America’s Most Responsible Companies for a fourth consecutive year by Newsweek, one of the World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes and one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies by Newsweek for the second straight year.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

The amount of animal waste produced in the U.S. every year is more than 1,000 times the weight of the Empire State Building, and the greenhouse gases from that waste can significantly impact the planet. But what if there was a way to treat the wastewater to help reduce carbon emissions? That’s what Bianca Bailey, Ph.D., the founder and CEO of Agriwater, aims to accomplish.

Agriwater, which Bailey started in 2021 while finishing her doctorate in agricultural engineering at the University of Illinois, is developing electrolysis-based technology to treat wastewater, which often is stored in hazardous lagoons that can pollute nearby natural water sources and create strong fumes throughout nearby towns and farming communities.

“It becomes a social justice issue when it relates to people who live around these areas who can’t have clean air,” said Bailey, who also points out that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also can fine farmers who don’t manage animal waste properly.

Instead, her innovative technology removes contaminants from wastewater, decreasing the likelihood of pollution in rural areas, reducing greenhouse gases and even creating clean water for reuse and recycling.

The promise of such technology has led Bailey to participate in various business accelerator programs. In 2022, Agriwater secured a spot in the Innovations Crossroads Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP). This two-year program will allow Agriwater to work toward commercializing its technology in collaboration with lab space and mentorship from Oak Ridge Laboratory in Tennessee.

“We’ve proven out the technology on a small scale, and now we’re looking to scale the technology from inside the lab to on-site at a farm,” Bailey said.

Bailey is the winner of the 2023 U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Inclusion Award, which supports female and minority entrepreneurs who are building innovative companies that benefit the environment, create jobs and drive economic development. The U.S. Bank Foundation works with Evergreen Climate Innovations to present the award, which includes a $25,000 grant and a year of mentorship. The funding will help Agriwater facilitate its first industrial-size pilot with farms.

“Entrepreneurs like Bailey, who tackle big challenges with such drive and passion, are working to build a more sustainable future for all of us,” said Reba Dominski, chief social responsibility officer at U.S. Bank and president of the U.S. Bank Foundation. “We are proud to support Agriwater as it continues to refine its technology and expand the scale of its business.” 

“We’re excited to continue our work with U.S. Bank Foundation to support early-stage startups working on solutions for environmental and social impact,” said Erik Birkerts, chief executive officer at Evergreen Climate Innovations. “We look forward to working with Agriwater and supporting their vision of creating a closed-loop water system for livestock farmers that yields an array of environmental, social and economic benefits.”

Agriwater is Bailey’s first commercial venture, but her interest in water treatment began years ago as an undergraduate studying chemical engineering at Howard University. As part of her work leading the campus Engineers Without Borders chapter, she facilitated a student-led water-filtration project in a small village in Kenya. This work, along with her involvement in the nonprofit Girls Inc. as a student and mentor, led to recognition from the White House Champions of Change program in 2011 for helping to recruit and retain girls and women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Her goal is to create a more sustainable environment for the children of the future as they will be, in her words, “stewards of the Earth.”

Now, as an engineer and business owner, Bailey welcomes the guidance she’ll receive through the Cleantech Inclusion Award program and encourages others building businesses in similar fields to broaden their knowledge beyond science and technology.

“Being a smart entrepreneur when it comes to technology is also knowing that you can’t just focus on the technology, but you also need to focus on the intellectual property and business implementation of the technology,” said Bailey. “You can have great technology, but if the business model and everything else doesn’t work out, then it’s simply just a good idea.”

This is the fourth year of the U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Inclusion Award. Information on how to apply for the 2024 award will be available later this year.

Our Approach

As one of the world’s leading financial services companies, MetLife plays an important role in communities. All MetLife regions, lines of business and colleagues contribute to community engagement and outreach, including through volunteerism and pro bono work. Throughout the company, executives and senior leaders engage in and encourage community work via organizational volunteer goals. MetLife Foundation helps connect MetLife colleagues with nonprofits and opportunities to make a difference.

Governance

As a separate legal entity, MetLife Foundation has its own Board of Directors, chaired by MetLife, Inc.’s Head of Corporate Affairs. MetLife Foundation’s President and Chief Executive Officer reports directly to the Foundation’s Board Chair. As a fully integrated role, MetLife Foundation’s President and CEO also serves as MetLife, Inc.’s Head of Corporate Giving and Employee Volunteerism, a function overseen by the Governance and Corporate Responsibility Committee of MetLife’s Board of Directors.

1 This is inclusive of the $35.7M in grants contributed to support underserved and underrepresented communities.

2 This includes a $1 million commitment to the United Negro College Fund to help finance scholarships at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

CLEVELAND, August 3, 2023 /3BL/ – KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) provided $46.4 million for the construction of new permanent supportive housing in Los Angeles, CA, which has the nation’s largest homeless population. The sponsor of the project is The Prime Company, a giving focused, vertically integrated multi-family development firm that designs, builds, and manages urban properties across the nation.

KeyBank CDLI provided $19.7 million in federal and state LIHTC equity, a $21.4 construction loan and a $5.3 million permanent loan to finance the new construction of 2111 Firestone, a six-story complex of one- and two-bedroom apartments designed to serve families and individuals exiting homelessness.

Of the 85 units, 42 units will be set aside for individuals exiting homelessness and earning no more than 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI). 41 units will be restricted to households earning no more than 50% of AMI. There will be two manager units.

The Prime Company, Domus Development and Kingdom Development will build the 85-unit complex at 2111 Firestone Blvd. in unincorporated Florence-Graham north of Watts. KeyBanc Capital Markets Group (KBCM) also sold $20.7 million of tax-exempt bonds through a public offering, the proceeds of which will be used to support financing of the project.

Supportive services will be available to all residents to help them stabilize and enhance their overall well-being. These services include intensive case management, mental health services, addiction/recovery services, employment and/or benefits advocacy; assistance in strengthening independent living skills and building a more comprehensive natural social support system.

The lead service provider, Housing Works (HW), will offer intensive case management using a housing first, trauma-informed approach to all tenants in the building.

Kortney Brown and Ted Witt of KeyBank CDLI structured the financing. Sam Adams of KeyBanc Capital Markets Public Finance Group provided the bond underwriting.

About KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment

KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) finances projects that stabilize and revitalize communities across all 50 states. As one of the top affordable housing capital providers in the country, KeyBank’s platform brings together construction, acquisition, bridge-to-re-syndication, and preservation loans, as well as lines of credit, Agency and HUD permanent mortgage executions, and equity investments for low-income housing projects, especially Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) financing. KeyBank has earned 10 consecutive “Outstanding” ratings on the Community Reinvestment Act exam, from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, making it the first U.S. national bank among the 25 largest to do so since the Act’s passage in 1977.

About KeyBanc Capital Markets

KeyBanc Capital Markets is a leading corporate and investment bank providing capital markets and advisory solutions to dynamic companies capitalizing on opportunities in changing industries. Our deep industry expertise, broad capabilities and unique ideas are seamlessly delivered to companies across the Consumer & Retail, Diversified Industries, Healthcare, Industrial, Oil & Gas, Real Estate, Utilities, Power & Renewables, and Technology verticals. With over 800 professionals across a national platform, KeyBanc Capital Markets has more than $50 billion of capital committed to clients and an award-winning Equity Research team that provides coverage on nearly 600 publicly traded companies. Securities products and services are offered by KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, and its licensed securities representatives, who may also be employees of KeyBank N.A. Banking products and services, are offered by KeyBank N.A.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $195 billion at June 30, 2023. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications, and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

Sustainable investing can mean different things to a range of different investors. A focus on ESG, or environmental, social and governance issues, can lead to a range of opportunities, but also brings questions and potential confusion.

Listen as Managing Director of Sustainable Investing Jeff Finkelman discusses how Fiduciary Trust International views all aspects of sustainable investing, including helping investors understand how it may have a place in their own portfolios.

About Fiduciary Trust International 
Fiduciary Trust International, a global wealth management firm headquartered in New York, NY, has served individuals, families, endowments and foundations since 1931. With over $90 billion in assets under management and administration as of March 31, 2023, the firm specializes in strategic wealth planning, investment management and trust and estate services, as well as tax and custody services. The New York-based firm and its subsidiaries maintain offices in Coral Gables, FL, Boca Raton, FL, St. Petersburg, FL, Radnor, PA, Lincoln, MA, Los Angeles, CA, San Mateo, CA, San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, Wilmington, DE, Reston, VA, and Atlanta, GA. For more information, please visit fiduciarytrust.com, and for the latest updates, follow Fiduciary Trust International on LinkedIn and Twitter: @FiduciaryTrust.

About Franklin Templeton 
Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,300 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and over $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2023. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

CAMDEN, N.J., August 3, 2023 /3BL/ – Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) today announced that as part of its Subaru Loves to Care® initiative, employees from Subaru headquarters presented 1,500 care packages to essential workers at Cooper University Health Care (Cooper). Alongside the appreciation kits, the automaker donated $30,000 to The Cooper Foundation as part of its ongoing support of Camden-based patients receiving treatment at Cooper.

Representatives from Subaru personally delivered the care kits to groups of essential non-medical hospital staff at Cooper, including janitors, security, and food service personnel. More than 120 Subaru employees personally created and packed the kits, which included gift cards, chocolate, and hand-written notes of appreciation, in the second-largest volunteer event held to date at the automaker’s Camden headquarters.

“Each day, the dedicated staff at Cooper wake up and make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients, no matter the circumstances,” said Shira Haaz, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Subaru of America, Inc. “We’ve been consistently inspired by their service and wanted to extend our heartfelt gratitude and support for their efforts to help keep our Camden community healthy and safe.”

For a second year in a row, Subaru donated $30,000 to The Cooper Foundation to help the Camden community get and stay healthy. The funds will provide up to 800 Camden residents with transportation to appointments at Cooper facilities via the Camden Loop rideshare program. In addition, a third of the funds will support the purchase of durable medical equipment – including blood pressure monitors, glucometers, scales, wheelchairs, walkers, and canes – to help patients manage chronic health conditions at home and help prevent the need for emergency visits or hospitalizations.

“Time and time again through its generosity and community spirit, Subaru has shown why it is an outstanding corporate citizen and neighbor here in Camden,” said George E. Norcross III, Chairman of the Cooper University Health Care Board of Trustees. “We are most grateful for Subaru’s support of Cooper in numerous ways over the years, and we look forward to our continued relationship as we work together to make Camden the best place to live, work, and do business.”

“Subaru constantly demonstrates its commitment and support to Camden through a myriad of philanthropic giving programs. We are extremely grateful to our Camden neighbor’s continued generosity towards our Cooper team and our patients,” said Philip A. Norcross, Esq., Chairman of The Cooper Foundation.

Over the last dozen years, Cooper has been the recipient of numerous charitable donations from Subaru. In 2022, the automaker donated $30,000 to purchase durable medical equipment, as well as $15,000to support a fund for Camden patients undergoing cancer treatment. In 2021, Subaru provided gift card bundles to more than 900 support staff at Cooper in recognition of their efforts throughout the pandemic. And since 2016, in conjunction with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Subaru and its local retailers have donated blankets and personalized messages of hope to cancer patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper each year.

The donations to Cooper are part of Subaru Loves to Care, the health-focused philanthropic pillar of the automaker’s Love Promise vision to show love and respect to all people at every interaction with Subaru. To learn more about Subaru Loves to Care, please visit subaru.com/care.

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About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $300 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 88,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About The Cooper Foundation
The Cooper Foundation serves as the philanthropic, community outreach, and community development arm of Cooper University Health Care, one of the largest health systems in southern New Jersey with more than 100 outpatient offices and its flagship, Cooper University Hospital located in Camden, N.J. Learn more and donate at foundation.cooperhealth.org 

About Cooper University Health Care 
Cooper University Health Care, with its MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper and affiliation with Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, is a leading academic health system. Cooper has more than 9,600 team members including 1,600 nurses, and more than 900 employed physicians and 450 advanced practice providers. Cooper University Hospital has been recognized as a top-performing regional hospital by U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best Hospitals annual survey and has an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit upholding the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.

Cooper has revenues of more than $2 billion and has an “A-” rating from S&P Global Ratings and “A3” rating from Moody’s Investors Service. Cooper University Hospital is the only Level 1 Trauma Center in South Jersey and the busiest in the region.  Nearly two million patients are served annually at Cooper’s 663-bed flagship hospital, outpatient surgery center, three urgent care centers, and more than 100 ambulatory offices throughout the community. Cooper has been named as one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes for two consecutive years. The Cooper Health Sciences campus in Camden, New Jersey, is home to Cooper University Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper, and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Visit CooperHealth.org to learn more.

Diane Anton 
Corporate Communications Manager                         
(856) 488-5093  
danton@subaru.com

Adam Leiter
Corporate Communications Specialist
(856) 488-8668
aleiter@subaru.com

International Olympic Committee news

Against a backdrop of rising global inequality, Paris 2024 has a vision for “wide open” Games designed to spread opportunities and maximise the benefits for the long-term unemployed, small businesses and deprived communities.

Employment is a priority area for Paris 2024. Early planning before the election of Paris 2024 as an Olympic host showed that the Games would generate activity for 150,000 jobs in a wide range of areas, including event organisation, tourism, catering and construction. Having mapped the skills required and career development paths, the Paris 2024 organisers worked with unions, vocational training providers, recruiters and public agencies to develop their employment strategy.

“We want to bring more people on board, including those who think the Games aren’t for them and that they’ll never find a job in this sector! There are so many opportunities out there, the Games will benefit everyone,” said Tony Estanguet, Paris 2024 President.

A springboard for opportunities

A Social Charter was agreed with trade unions and employer organisations in 2018 – a first in the history of the Olympic Games. Its aim is to use the Games as a springboard for small companies, social enterprises and the long-term unemployed through training, quality jobs, and career paths for local people and vulnerable groups.

The jobs strategy involves:

Reserving a minimum of 10 per cent of the working hours generated by procurement for people far from employment.“Stadium to job” recruitment days, when jobseekers can show recruiters their soft skills in an informal setting before interviews: after more than 300 events so far, 60 per cent of attendees have returned to employment within six months.A special web platform (EMPLOIS 2024) that lists all Games-related jobs and acts as a one-stop-shop for employers and jobseekers, who can also access any training they require.Work experience and training schemes for junior and middle-school French students to prepare them for job opportunities.

Boosting small businesses

The sustainable procurement strategy of Paris 2024 recognises socio-economic as well as environmental responsibilities.

While 90 per cent of suppliers are French, 75 per cent are small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They account for two-thirds of the contracts awarded, with 1,200 SMEs benefitting. There is also a dedicated programme and web platform (ESS 2024) to advise and support companies in the “social and solidarity economy”, and this will continue after the Games.

Wider social impacts

The Olympic Games are the catalyst for a host of other initiatives that will have wider and lasting impacts across French society, including the health benefits of physical activity. With the backing of various public partners, Paris 2024 set up an endowment fund for social innovation. Impact 2024 supports projects that use sport to promote health, well-being, education, inclusion, equality and environmental improvements.

More than 1,000 projects have shared in the EUR 38.7 million of funding distributed since 2020. Some 3.1 million people have benefitted so far as sports clubs and organisations set up special schemes to engage with and support people – from those with disabilities or girls living in disadvantaged areas who are inactive to the elderly or prisoners.

“The Paris 2024 vision of harnessing the power of sport to open up socio-economic opportunities for all is already bearing fruit, at more than a year before the Games have begun,” said Marie Sallois, IOC Director for Sustainability. “This reflects the wider purpose of the Olympic Movement, the ambitions of Olympic Agenda 2020+5, and the power of sport to improve people’s lives.”

Serving Seine-Saint-Denis

Seine-Saint-Denis – a department north-east of Paris characterised by a particularly high percentage of young people, economic vitality and diversity, while experiencing some of the highest unemployment and poverty rates in France – is the priority area for Games-led regeneration. Investment and Paris 2024-supported social initiatives will have a lasting impact on the day-to-day lives of local residents.

The department will benefit from urban and ecological regeneration, as well as health and social benefits accelerated by the Games. These include an increase in cycling lanes and green public spaces, a boost in sports-related employment, and a range of health, education and inclusion initiatives, as part of Impact 2024. The Games are already bringing sport closer to the people of Seine-Saint Denis, with free sports participation events organised in public spaces across the area, learn-to-swim summer programmes for children, and disability awareness campaigns in local schools.

The Aquatics Centre – the only new permanent competition venue, built for the long-term use of local residents – will serve an area previously lacking in sports facilities. The multi-use centre will have a swimming pool, gym, climbing wall, skatepark and areas for individual and team sports.

Also under construction nearby as part of the long-term development plan for the Paris region is the Olympic Village. After the Games, it will form a new residential district, with around 2,800 family apartments, shops, public facilities and green spaces.The Games have also brought forward and boosted long-anticipated investment in the area, such as the installation of four underground 225,000-volt electricity lines to serve Saint-Denis and surrounding areas, the construction of a motorway noise barrier, and redevelopment of the Canal Saint-Denis.

Originally published by QSR on qsrmagazine.com

By Danny Klein

It’s not hyperbole to say no restaurant group on record has grown as fast as Yum! Brands is currently. The Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger owner opened roughly 8,700 locations in the past two years. That calculates to a store every two hours, across the globe, for 24 straight months, or 730 days. In fiscal 2022—its 25th as a public company—Yum! opened 4,560 gross new units, which topped a previous high mark it set a year earlier at 4,180.

As of the end of 2022, the company committed about $50 million to help fund more than 30 social impact programs in 11 countries.

Every employee is required to certify Yum!’s “Global Code of Conduct” as part of annual compliance training, which also covers anti-discrimination and harassment. Yum! tapped an independent, third-party-operated ethics hotline and online portal, known as The Speak Up Helpline, for employees to reach 24/7. It’s translated across nine different languages. 

In recent years, however, this wider movement to foster culture and talent at Yum! has been characterized by newly refined values, and an “EIB [equity, inclusion and belonging] mindset,” the company said.

Yum! struck several cross-sector partnerships, like Hispanic Promise, which is a national pledge to hire, promote, retain, and celebrate Hispanics in the workplaces; and the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusions. As a member of OneTen Coalition, Yum! teams with other U.S. businesses to create career mobility and advancement opportunities for a million Black/African-America individuals over 10 years. In 2022, Yum! was among the organization’s highest-performing partners in terms of the number of new hires and promotions at its equity-owned restaurants and corporate offices, the company said.

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MELBOURNE, Australia, August 3, 2023 /3BL/ – Beca and Black & Veatch will expand their collaboration to deliver a greater breadth of sustainability and decarbonisation solutions in Australia and New Zealand.

The expanded agreement responds to a growing demand for infrastructure solutions that adapt to and mitigate against the impacts of climate change. The MoU covers collaboration on engineering and construction projects across areas including water and wastewater, renewable energy, hydrogen and ammonia production and export, mining and metal processing, data centres, power transmission and distribution, electric vehicle charging, and food and beverage facilities.

Decarbonisation is remarkably complex yet imperative to mitigate climate impacts. Achieving a net-zero energy future requires seamless and extensive integration of multiple technologies. With proper preparation, planning, and investment, progress can be achieved by utilities, energy producers, and other energy-intensive industrial and commercial organisations.

“Australia and New Zealand enjoy abundant energy transformation opportunities, and well-planned investments in sustainable infrastructure can have significant environmental and economic impacts,” said Narsingh Chaudhary, President, Asia Pacific and India, Black & Veatch. “Combining our global experience with Beca’s strong local presence and experience in the Australasia region, we look forward to accelerating this journey and taking on technically challenging engineering projects to realize the region’s decarbonisation ambitions and modernize its infrastructure.”

“For more than five years we have been working together on industry-shaping water projects across Australia and New Zealand, including leading water entities such as Melbourne Water, Yarra Valley Water, and Wellington City Council.,” said Clive Rundle, Group Director – Utilities, Beca. “We have forged a strong, collaborative relationship, born out of two organisations with similar values and complementary capabilities. The expansion of our partnership with Black & Veatch beyond the water sector is a natural progression that provides clients across Australia and New Zealand with unique globally informed experiences needed to solve the challenges they are facing now and in the future.”

The extended Beca and Black & Veatch MoU aligns with the commitments of Australia and New Zealand to hasten their energy transformation by navigating the opportunities and difficulties that the transition to net zero will provide for both countries’ economies and identifying potential areas of cooperation.

A strong shared culture is behind the success of the Beca and Black & Veatch collaboration. Both companies are employee-owned—a business model that has been delivering success for more than a century for each organisation. Among their shared priorities are the commitment to safely delivering and managing critical infrastructure, sustainability, and responsible corporate stewardship.

Contact Black & Veatch for more information.

***

Editor’s Notes: 

The previous MoU executed in 2019 between the two companies focused on water and wastewater projects in New Zealand.

About Black & Veatch 

Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting, and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Our revenues in 2022 were US$4.3 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.

Media Contact, Black & Veatch:

EMILY CHIA | +65 6335 6623 P | +65 9875 8907 M | Chialp@bv.com

24-HOUR MEDIA EMAIL | Media@bv.com

About Beca

Beca is an employee-owned professional services firm that has been delivering community-shaping Engineering, Advisory and Management Consulting services across the Asia-Pacific Region for over 100 years. We have more than 4,000 people in 21 offices who are delivering projects in over 70 countries. We have had offices in Australia since 1969 and we’re proud to be supporting our customers across market segments including Minerals and Metals, Transport and Infrastructure, Energy, Water, Food and Life Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing, Health, and Defence.

Creative people together transforming our world is our vision. It reflects our culture, our aspirations and our purpose – to make everyday better. We create value through understanding and delivering successful solutions, exceptional service and our enduring relationships and use our skills and systems to empower innovation; helping our clients shape communities, optimise their assets and streamline their operations. Follow us on www.beca.com.

Media Contact, Beca:

REBECCA ADAM I +61 403 502 654 I rebecca.adam@beca.com

Project joins the company’s other three solar facilities in Northern Kentucky’s Kenton and Grant countiesMore than 5,600 solar panels designed to generate approximately 2 megawatts of clean electricity

CINCINNATI, August 3, 2023 /3BL/ – Duke Energy customers in Northern Kentucky are benefiting from additional clean, renewable solar energy as a result of a new utility-scale rooftop solar project now generating power for area homes and businesses.

Kentucky’s largest rooftop solar array operates over 5,600 photovoltaic panels on the 800,000-square-foot Amazon Air Hub rooftop adjacent to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. This Duke Energy facility will feed up to 2 megawatts of solar power directly onto the electric distribution grid, energizing approximately 400 homes and businesses in the area.

“Duke Energy Kentucky has gained a great deal of experience in owning and operating ground-mounted solar since 2017,” said Amy Spiller, president, Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky. “Located in one of the fastest-growing counties in the Commonwealth, this new rooftop solar site will complement our emerging solar portfolio in the Bluegrass State.”

Duke Energy Kentucky is making cost-effective incremental additions to its existing electric generation to support growth across the region and ensure Northern Kentucky customers benefit from clean, affordable and reliable energy for many years to come. Among many benefits, the rooftop solar project aligns with Duke Energy’s companywide goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions and provide a cleaner and smarter energy future for customers and communities.

This new solar project is a joint partnership between Amazon and Duke Energy, aligning with both companies’ renewable energy goals. The location on Amazon’s Air Hub is ideal for many reasons, including a substantial and accessible flat roof, which receives optimal sunlight, and it is near the infrastructure needed to feed the solar energy onto the distribution grid, and then to nearby customers.

“Powering our operations with 100% renewable energy is an important part of Amazon’s commitment to reach net zero by 2040, and we built Amazon’s Air Hub – the largest field operation in Amazon’s history – with sustainability in mind,” said Chris Roe, Amazon director of energy and sustainable operations. “We’re excited to host this solar project on our rooftop in collaboration with Duke Energy, and help provide a new source of clean electricity to the local community.”

Duke Energy Kentucky’s other solar sites in Grant and Kenton counties

Walton Solar Power Plants 1 & 2 are located on a 60-acre property on York Road in Kenton County. Duke Energy operates about 19,000 solar panels at the site, which are capable of producing more than 4 megawatts of electricity.

Crittenden Solar Power Plant is located off I-75 in Grant County on portions of a 110-acre site on Ruark Road. This solar array includes about 12,500 panels, and is able to generate more than 2.7 megawatts of electricity.

Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky

Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides electric service to 900,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in a 3,000-square-mile service area, and natural gas service to 550,000 customers in a 2,650-square-mile service area, in Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2023 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “World’s Best Employers” list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media contact: Sally Thelen 
Phone: 513.287.2432 | 24-Hour: 800.559.3853 
Twitter: @DE_SallyT

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