Tag: 3BL

June 29, 2023 /3BL/ – Nine companies and five business and consumer advocacy groups today called for North Carolina lawmakers to establish and fund a state-led committee to study wholesale market competition options, to improve grid reliability and generate cost savings for the benefit of all North Carolina ratepayers.

In a letter sent today to members of the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor Roy Cooper, the companies and groups urged state lawmakers to approve House Bill 503, a bipartisan proposal sponsored by Reps. Larry Strickland, Kyle Hall, and John Torbett. The bill would authorize and fund the creation of a legislative study committee to evaluate competitive wholesale market options to ensure a well-designed and well-implemented market for North Carolina ratepayers. 

“As businesses with major operations, employees, and investments in communities across the state, reliable and affordable electricity is key to the vitality of our companies,” the letter notes. “State regulated monopoly utilities are not offering optimally designed and scalable clean energy programs. Recent rolling blackouts during Winter Storm Elliott highlight the urgent need for sufficient reliable and affordable electricity in North Carolina… We urge you to take action to address market barriers to reliable, affordable, and resilient electricity.”

Nine companies signed the letter: Nestlé, REI, New Belgium Brewing, Unilever, Marriott, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Carolina Solar Energy, Yarotek, and SJF Ventures. Five advocacy organizations also joined as signers: the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA), Ceres, E2, Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy, and the Carolina Utility Customers Association.

“Expanding electricity market options in North Carolina would help drive innovation and cost savings for all energy customers and improve grid reliability and resilience,” said Reese Rogers, CEBA’s Southeastern market and policy innovation manager. “House Bill 503 would open a path for North Carolina to move toward greater options for customer choice and grid reliability.”

“Businesses want better access to reliable, affordable, clean energy, and the best way to unlock these resources at scale is through new wholesale market competition,” said Alli Gold Roberts, Ceres’ senior director of state policy. “House Bill 503 provides a path toward opening the market and delivering significant utility bill savings and economic development across North Carolina. Ceres and the businesses and investors we work with urge lawmakers to pass this bill soon.”

“With the energy landscape shifting so rapidly, we owe it to North Carolina businesses and households to explore electricity market reforms that could help the state deliver more reliable and more affordable energy to customers,” said Zach Amittay, E2’s Southeast advocate. “HB 503 is a commonsense first step to do just that.”

A growing body of market research on the Southeast indicates that unlocking wholesale market competition in North Carolina could produce significant cost savings, drive innovation and economic development, and improve grid reliability and resilience. Organized wholesale markets, regional transmission organizations (RTOs) or independent system operators (ISOs), currently serve over 70% of all U.S. customers.

A 2020 report by Energy Innovation found that a Southeastern RTO could create $384 billion in regional economic savings, create 285,000 clean energy jobs, and reduce emissions 37% by 2040. As the letter notes, opening the energy market in North Carolina to more competition translates to more options to meet customer preferences and, in turn, supports economic development prospects in the state. 

Regional coordination on an electricity market and transmission planning would help the Carolinas realize efficiencies of exchange and economies of scale that come from expanded market access. Brattle Group analysts this spring told the South Carolina General Assembly’s Electricity Market Reform Measures Committee that South Carolina utility customers could save $285 million to $362 million a year if the Carolinas together joined an RTO. A North Carolina market study would evaluate the degree of savings for North Carolina customers.

Media Contact: Helen Booth-Tobin, booth-tobin@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 214

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 29, 2023 /3BL/ – Today, Truist Foundation announced a $225,000 grant to Rethreaded, a nonprofit focused on breaking the cycle of generational trauma for sex trafficking survivors by providing them with employment, career development and supportive services. Rethreaded will use the grant funds to create a training program within the various systems that survivors encounter while in a life of human trafficking, including hospitals, workplaces, nonprofit organizations, and the justice system.

The goal of the training program is to equip system workers with information and tools to better understand and identify survivors to create a faster, less traumatic exit from the life of human trafficking and into new career pathways that sustain their financial needs and allow them to develop marketable job skills.

“Truist Foundation is devoted to partnering with organizations that are making strides to fight the global issue of human trafficking,” said Lynette Bell, president of Truist Foundation. “Rethreaded is doing critical work in Jacksonville to help transition survivors out of human trafficking and connect them to career pathways that lead to financial independence. It is our honor to help these survivors build better lives for themselves in partnership with Rethreaded.”

Truist Financial Chairman and CEO Bill Rogers, Truist Financial North Florida Regional President Emily Dawkins and Truist Foundation Director of Governance Renee Villanueva recently met with Rethreaded Founder and CEO Kristin Keen and Rethreaded President and COO Jason Jones to make the grant, discuss its impact and tour Rethreaded’s facilities.

“This grant will have a ripple effect in touching the lives of survivors, their families and our community as a whole,” said Keen. “Truist Foundation’s investment is a catalyst for change and together we can create more opportunities for women to reclaim their lives, find their voice and thrive.”

This training program builds on Rethreaded’s Survivor Development Program, which connects human trafficking survivors to careers in fields such as retail, finance and fundraising, and provides them with professional training and access to a trauma-informed professional community. Rethreaded serves 300 individuals annually, and 85 percent of survivors who engage with Rethreaded never return to human trafficking.

According to Rethreaded, Florida ranks third in the U.S. for reported cases of human trafficking and Jacksonville ranks 48th of all cities in the U.S. Rethreaded’s mission is to harness the power of business, time, and community to create choice for 500 survivors of human trafficking by 2033, and Truist Foundation seeks to be an active supporter of that mission.

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About Truist Foundation 
Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. Truist Foundation’s grants and activities focus on building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. Learn more at Truist.com/Foundation.

About Rethreaded 
Without a stable job, 85% of survivors of human trafficking will likely be trafficked again. Rethreaded was founded 10 years ago by Kristin Keen to provide employment to local survivors and help them rebuild their lives and remove the barrier of employment. Rethreaded’s mission is to harness the power of business, time, and community to create choice for 500 survivors of human trafficking by 2033. Rethreaded has employed 74 survivors, contributed to the support of over 4,000 women globally, and collaborated with over 200 companies.

Media Contact:
Kristen Fraser, Truist
media@truist.com

NEW ORLEANS, June 29, 2023 /3BL/ – This May, Entergy launched a series of measures to help its low-income and senior customers “Beat the Heat” and save on their utility bills during the hot summer months. This marks the 22nd year of the program, in which Entergy has partnered with local organizations across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas to support thousands of vulnerable customers through bill payment assistance and community programs.

“We recognize the economic challenges our customers and communities are currently facing,” said Patty Riddlebarger, Entergy’s vice president of corporate social responsibility. “We are so proud of our employees who, year after year, continue to rise up to the occasion and exemplify our company mission to help out our most vulnerable customers in need.”

So far, the initiatives and resources provided by Entergy totaled more than $4.1 million to help customers stay cool this summer, including:

More than $3 million was donated by Entergy shareholders, employees and customers to The Power to Care program, which provides bill assistance to older adults and customers with disabilities.Donated $1 million to provide energy efficiency kits for customers.More than $75,000 in grants were awarded to help provide resources for vulnerable customers, including fans and weatherization events.Over 2,500 electric fans were distributed to help customers beat high temperatures and save on electricity bills throughout the summer.More than 800 energy efficiency kits were distributed in parts of Entergy’s service area that included money-saving LED bulbs, advanced power strips, bathroom faucet aerators and V-seal weatherstripping.Neighborhood sweeps were conducted in select, underserved areas and over 50 low-income homes were weatherproofed.

Entergy’s “Beat the Heat” initiatives are ongoing and will continue to help customers throughout the summer. To learn more, visit entergy.com/answers.

About Entergy

Entergy (NYSE: ETR) is a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at entergy.com and follow @Entergy on social media. #WePowerLife

STUTTGART, Germany, June 29, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Lenovo is installing a powerful high-performance computer (HPC) at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), a world-leading research institution in its field. This is expected to be operational by the end of August as HPC partner pro-com ensures seamless integration. The new system is intended to support researchers in their work to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of climate change, in order to subsequently develop strategies for the sustainable existence of mankind and nature. Particular focus will be placed on increasing efficiency and performance over the previous system. HPC systems with Lenovo’s Neptune Liquid Cooling technology will be used for this purpose.

Research and sustainability efforts

The new supercomputer offers higher performance, enabling PIK researchers to perform faster and more comprehensive calculations.

An important project of the research institute is the economic shock model Acclimate. This is used to analyze disruptions in over 1.8 million supply relationships affecting more than 7000 economic sectors worldwide. To do this, global supply lines must be recalculated daily to understand the impact of extreme weather events on these relationships. The new HPC system ensures that uncertainties can be estimated more precisely, and predictions improved.

Another area of application for the supercomputer is risk forecasting. For a statistically robust risk assessment, as many extreme events as possible must be considered. The high-performance computer is used to simulate flood events, for example, for possibly affected regions via a combination of climate and hydrological models. With the capacities now available, significantly more experiments can be conducted and thus risks can be predicted more accurately.

In addition, PIK will be able to use the full range of machine learning (ML) methods to solve fundamental problems in climate research. This will allow PIK to continue to be a world leader in contributing to core topics such as climate networks, hybrid or ML-based Earth system modeling, bias correction and downscaling, and predictions of extreme events and abrupt transitions such as monsoon onsets and their associated socio-economic impacts.

Technology and integration

In order to meet the technical requirements and to continue to support the researchers at PIK in the best possible way, the new HPC system at PIK will use the latest version of Lenovo’s ThinkSystem SD665 V3 servers with integrated AMD EPYC 9004 processor. The combination of 128 cores with a high base clock of 3.1 GHz as well as a bandwidth of 24 memory channels with built-in DDR5 memory were decisive for the decision for this server. The overall system thus has a total number of over 30,000 cores, 240 nodes and 185 TB of RAM. The GPU used will be NVIDIA’s Hopper H100 in SXM form factor, which is specifically designed for HPC and AI applications. In addition, for the AI requirements of the researchers at PIK, the GPU partitions are important as part of the overall solution.

One of the challenges of the project lies in the gradual replacement of the existing system without affecting user operations. For this purpose, the HPC partner pro-com has developed an integration strategy that both minimizes the impact on user operations and enables a rapid system integration including the complex data migration of the existing 5 petabytes of research data.

As part of the previous cooperation with Lenovo, PIK had already integrated the Neptune direct hot water cooling system in such a way that in winter the heating of the PIK building A56 on the Potsdamer Telegrafenberg was provided almost entirely by the HPC system. Now a new technology is used, which was designed individually for the PIK based on the Coolmanager from the German company Waning together with Lenovo and pro-com. This works with increased temperatures and heat extraction, which enables more flexible subsequent use and also offers the possibility of heating other buildings on the science campus in winter using waste heat. The Coolmanager has two redundant heat exchangers as well as full integration into the building control system. Despite the increased performance, the space consumption in the data center remains the same.

“The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research has been setting the standard in sustainability for many years, both through research and technology. Lenovo is pleased to continue to actively support PIK in its efforts,” commented Scott Tease, Vice President, General Manager HPC and AI Global at Lenovo. “The increased demand for data analytics, as well as machine learning and AI applications, is a direct result of the relevance of the climate change issue. The new system with integrated Neptune hot water cooling provides the necessary performance while maintaining outstanding energy efficiency.”

“We thank Lenovo for being one of the (world’s) first customers to deploy 4th generation AMD EPYC processors on Lenovo ThinkSystem servers for productive operation. As an institution dedicated to researching the impact of climate change on natural and social systems with the goal of global sustainability, it was critical for us to be able to deploy the most energy efficient computer systems currently available on the market,” said Karsten Kramer, Head of IT Services at PIK. “Working with Lenovo and HPC partner pro-com DATENSYSTEME GmbH to use Lenovo Neptune liquid cooling in combination with AMD EPYC processors offers us a massive increase in computing power over the previous system without exceeding the budget available to the institute for its sustainable power supply from renewable sources.”

The inauguration ceremony for the new high-performance computer at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research is scheduled for early next year.

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, June 29, 2023 /3BL/ – LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) announced its investment in a new Carbon Neutrality Fund led by Chrysalix Venture Capital. The fund will support emerging companies developing and deploying new low-carbon technologies, focusing on hard-to-abate sectors, such as the chemicals industry. These investments expand LyondellBasell’s venture capital activities to help advance its ambitious sustainability goals.

“Sustainability is integrated into our business strategy, and we are confident the Carbon Neutrality Fund will help us advance our industry-leading climate goals, as we create value, and develop products and solutions that contribute to a better tomorrow.” said Jim Seward, executive vice president and chief innovation officer at LyondellBasell. “Chrysalix Venture Capital has an established track record of investing in new climate technologies and a strong focus on developing innovative solutions for hard-to-abate sectors, including chemicals.”

“We are pleased to welcome LyondellBasell and other leading international investors to the Carbon Neutrality Fund,” said Fred van Beuningen, Managing Partner at Chrysalix Venture Capital. “Working closely with our Limited Partners, the Fund will connect leading companies with outstanding entrepreneurs, linking market driven problems to innovative solutions while seizing the value creation opportunity of carbon neutrality. Technologies that support carbon neutrality offer a value creation and a new business opportunity, companies with a proactive carbon strategy will create long term sources of differentiation.”

In addition to Chrysalix, LyondellBasell has invested in Closed Loop Circular Plastics Fund, Infinity Recycling, and HX Venture. These venture capital funds are focused on accelerating the development of infrastructure and recycling technologies needed to address plastic waste challenges in North America, Europe, and Asia. These investments align with the company’s goal that for every dollar LyondellBasell invests in venture funds addressing critical sustainability challenges, the company helps catalyze another five dollars from co-investors.

About LyondellBasell 
We are LyondellBasell – a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. Through advanced technology and focused investments, we are enabling a circular and low carbon economy. Across all we do, we aim to unlock value for our customers, investors and society. As one of the world’s largest producers of polymers and a leader in polyolefin technologies, we develop, manufacture and market high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. For more information, please visit www.lyondellbasell.com or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statement for LyondellBasell

The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions of management of LyondellBasell which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. When used in this release, the words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “expect,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Actual results could differ materially based on factors including, but not limited to, our ability to successfully develop or deploy low-carbon technologies, meet our sustainability goals or connect with other leading companies and entrepreneurs. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which can be found at www.LyondellBasell.com on the Investors page and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

For media inquiries, please contact:

LyondellBasell

Email: mediarelations@lyondellbasell.com

Media Line : +1 713 309 7575

The cost-of-living crisis has negatively impacted nearly half of people living in England and Wales, according to a new report.

A total of 48 percent of people who took part in the study have felt the effects of the crisis which has risen to 73 percent for those already living with an existing mental health problem, according to Mind.

The mental health charity released the data to mark Mental Health Awareness Week (which ran from May 15-21) with a focus on the theme of Anxiety.

A key finding in the report highlighted that many people are not receiving the required support when their mental health is negatively impacted. For example, more than half haven’t accessed support from a GP, two-thirds (66 percent) haven’t accessed online support and 71 percent haven’t accessed support from a local mental health charity.

The latest research revealed more than half of people (56 percent), who have already experienced a negative effect on their mental health, admitted the cost-of-living crisis has ramped up their anxiety levels. It has made 55 percent feel more stressed, 45 percent feel more depressed and 33 percent expressed feelings of loneliness.

Those already living with an existing mental health problem said the cost-of-living crisis has further impacted their health, with 66 percent feeling more anxious, 65 percent feeling more stressed than before and further depression is affecting 64 percent while 47 percent feel lonely.

While anxiety is a normal emotion for everyone, and acts as a natural response to pressure, fear or feeling threatened, it can occasionally get out of control. This then becomes a mental health problem, more apparent if it impacts a person’s ability to live their life as fully as they would like.

Big life events such as starting a new job (or losing one), exam pressures and maintaining healthy relationships can contribute to feeling anxious but money problems are also impacting on people’s wellbeing.

Mental Health Awareness Week aims to not only raise awareness but also promote better understanding of anxiety by providing information on the areas that can help prevent it from becoming problematic.

Simultaneously, Mind is continuing to apply pressure and is urging the government and society to improve mental health and ensure it is a key priority.

Censuswide conducted the survey on behalf of Mind with a sample of 3,015 respondents across England and Wales in March and April of this year.

Sarah Hughes, Mind Chief Executive, said: “The uncertainty of watching as our costs spiral can be difficult to bear and having so much to deal with can affect our mental health. Despite this, looking after our mental well-being is often last on our list. It’s really important that we all get the support we need – this is a mental health emergency that everyone is going to need help to deal with. 
“We know we can’t fix the cost-of-living crisis but support for your mental health is out there and we are here for you. This includes through Mind’s Infoline, online community, Side by Side and the useful information available on our website.”

Chloë Hunt, Global Senior Director – Advisory, Research & EDI at Acre, said: “With an increase in remote and online resources, support and material has never been more available to different audiences. Sometimes not knowing where to start or finding the best language to articulate and identify what you need is difficult. These campaigns that spotlight different dimensions to mental health and raise awareness too are invaluable”.

Mind offers help for those experiencing poor mental health, including money management advice to ensure you are claiming any extra money or support you are entitled to and familiarising yourself with money and mood patterns. For more information, visit Mind’s website.

At Acre, we work with the most aspirational businesses with potential to make real change; from those who are just starting out to those who are well on the journey to crafting a legacy.

Our 18 years’ experience in sustainability recruitment, combined with our extensive global network, enables us to provide talent solutions that are designed to deliver this change.

Through our unique behavioural assessment technology, we understand the types of people, skills and behaviours required to create impact. We can develop these qualities within your existing teams too.

We find talented people and develop their skills to ensure they make a true impact in ambitious, progressive organisations.

Acre. Making companies ready for tomorrow.

At Rayonier, safety is a way of life and a cornerstone of our culture. It is embedded within every action we take and guided by a fundamental respect for people. Rayonier’s commitment to safety extends beyond our employees. Our contractor workforce also partners with us when it comes to safety. In 2022 more than 650 Rayonier contractors in 8 different states attended in-person safety training which brought them up to speed on OSHA requirements and prepared them to implement their own active, written safety programs.

Our Safety Star recognition program is designed to promote role model behaviors in safety. This June, we are excited to recognize the entire Greater Georgia resource unit for its dedication to safety as a way of life.

When nominating the unit for the honor, Operations Safety Manager Patrick Hughes said, “It takes an entire team dedicated to safety to work with our contractors in developing their safety programs. Greater Georgia has worked diligently with their contractor workforce to meet various safety goals.”

Brian Shaker, Senior Timber Marketing Manager, emphasized the far-reaching implications of our new policy when he said, “For far too long, complacency, as it relates to safety, has been the ‘norm’ across forestry operations in the southeast. Raising the bar is the right thing to do and long overdue. It’s no surprise to me that our GGRU team would take great pride in helping Rayonier and our contractors lead such an important cultural change within the industry.”

Senior Administrative Assistant Carolyn Mobley has been honing a safety mindset for her entire career. She understands the importance of speaking up when she sees someone do something unsafe. She doesn’t ever want to wonder “Why didn’t I say something?” She also looks for opportunities to remind others of the ABCs of safety — Always Be Careful. “When I tell people to be safe or be careful, it is coming from the heart because I want each of my coworkers and contractors to go home safely at the end of the day.”

To learn more about Rayonier’s safety principles, visit https://www.rayonier.com/sustainability/responsible-stewardship/social/.

As a post-pandemic paradigm focused on health resilience in buildings and communities takes root, leading organizations are systematically elevating human health and well-being in how they implement sustainability initiatives. At this pivotal moment, the practitioner community can help inform more holistic and integrative approaches to implementation that marry healthy design with broader climate goals. To maximize positive health outcomes in concert with sustainability goals, practitioners from different sectors are now coalescing around a set of strategies and interventions to deliver on health, equity and well-being in everything from building projects to city policy, and from federal programs to environmental, social and governance frameworks.

Join us in this session that features a group of practitioners with different perspectives on how they are augmenting and strengthening sustainability initiatives with leading health-first strategies and best practices. This shift is particularly important as cities, schools and other major sectors across the built environment continue to receive historic federal infrastructure investments and newly extended sustainability incentives. In this larger context, the speakers will go into deeper detail about how cities are prioritizing health in city building policy and urban design, the role large commercial real estate is playing to ramp up health resilience in the face of future public health emergencies, and how tenants are advancing healthier workplaces.

Date: July 12 @2pm ET

Speakers

Wendy Feldman Block, Executive Managing Director, Savills USDeb Cloutier, President & Founder, RE Tech AdvisorsJon Douglas, Director, Healthy Buildings Services and Solutions, Johnson ControlsLena Geraghty, Director, Sustainability & Innovation, Municipal Practice, NLC

Moderator

Jason Hartke, Executive Vice President, External Affairs, IWBI

Register here

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June 29, 2023 /3BL/ – The Ray, a nonprofit organization advancing net-zero transportation and energy infrastructure with public agencies, announced a formal engagement with Cityfi to expand and accelerate The Ray’s project execution, and enhance growth nationally through forward-thinking policy and public affairs. Cityfi’s team of former public officials, technologists, and entrepreneurs are experienced in developing smart, connected transportation and technology hubs, scaling zero-emissions transportation with clean fuels and clean energy assets, and navigating state and local procurement. Cityfi’s unique approach combines business strategy, public affairs, and deep subject matter expertise to create tangible impact for organizations and coalitions. Cityfi is a majority women and minority-owned organization.

Currently, The Ray works in 29 states with over 50 public agencies to evaluate infrastructure innovations and technologies, provide technical advice and unique planning tools to bridge knowledge gaps, and facilitate projects from concept to construction. Transportation is the leading sector contributing to greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., and transportation costs are the second largest annual household expense. Low-income communities are more likely to be situated near and adjacent to highways and interstates, and are more likely to suffer from noise pollution, transportation emissions, illegal tire dumping, and to experience health impacts from the urban heat island effect in highly paved areas.

The Ray’s net-zero mission is to build smarter, safer and cleaner infrastructure in the transportation and energy sectors. Recent successes include pollinator-friendly roadside solar arrays in Augusta, ME, connected and autonomous vehicle infrastructure in Austin, TX, and tire safety monitoring stations across Florida.

“The Ray’s research and thought leadership role in land use, natural capital, circularity, and how to leverage the clean energy economy into our transportation systems positions us to drive the national discussion and drive faster project development at the local and state level,” said Allie Kelly, Executive Director of The Ray. “Our strategic partnership with Cityfi and focus on stakeholder engagement will scale projects and new solutions.”

By leveraging the transportation planning, infrastructure deployment and policy expertise of Cityfi, The Ray can accelerate the progress and growth of its signature programs, including:

the utilization of transportation “rights-of-way” for solar arrays and the electrical grid;supporting connected and autonomous vehicle deployment with roadway sensors,
radios and data management systems;expanding re-uses of scrap tire material in sustainable pavements and stormwater
management and infiltration galleries.

“For the most economically disadvantaged individuals in America, the financial burden of transportation is disproportionately and unsustainably high,” said Andrew Wishnia, Partner with CityFi. “The impact of The Ray’s work is magnified in low-income communities, where public health and quality of life are far more greatly affected by transportation and infrastructure, and creates the opportunity for Cityfi to assist The Ray in initiating equitable and long-term sustainable development.”

Net-zero transportation encompasses a range of solutions for transportation infrastructure owners and users, including improved community design, efficient travel options, zero-emission vehicles and supporting infrastructure, clean energy deployment along transportation rights-of-way, and natural capital solutions like vegetation management for enhanced carbon sequestration in roadside soils.

“The Ray is transforming the way transportation infrastructure is built,” said Harriet Anderson Langford, Founder and President of The Ray. “Together, The Ray and Cityfi will help pave the way for a more sustainable future, where transportation and energy work harmoniously to minimize environmental impact and help communities thrive.”

About The Ray
The Ray is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity and net-zero highway testbed, located on 18 miles of Interstate 85 between Lagrange, Georgia and the Georgia-Alabama state line. This stretch of interstate is named in memory of Ray C. Anderson (1934-2011), a Georgia native recognized as a leader in green business when he challenged his company, Interface, Inc., to pursue a zero environmental footprint. Our mission is to reimagine how we connect our communities, our lives and the world in a way that is safer, more responsive to the climate, more regenerative to the environment, and more capable of creating economic opportunity through innovative ideas and technologies that will transform transportation infrastructure. The Ray Highway is paving the way for a zero carbon, zero waste, zero deaths highway system that will build a safer and more prosperous future for us all. Learn more at www.TheRay.org.

About Cityfi
Cityfi is in the business of urban change management. We are government innovators, entrepreneurs, designers, political advisors, and trusted industry experts who have transformed public agencies and scaled high growth companies. We leverage our experienced, diverse, passionate team to develop visionary strategies and implementable actions that simplify complexity, align interests, and drive change to deliver meaningful outcomes.

We believe that true public-private partnerships are built upon clear lines of communication, common values, aligned incentives and shared commitment to outcomes. We focus a great deal on technology, but in the context of what is good for communities, citizens, and the long-term health of our environment. Cityfi operates in six core practice areas (Mobility Systems and Reimagines Streets; Public Affairs and Regulatory Design; Resilience and Adaptation; CleanTech and Zero-Emission Transition; Civic Innovation and Change Management and Digital Transformation and Connectivity) and fostering collaboration among these areas is a distinguishing feature of our work, resulting in comprehensive solutions. Learn more at https://www.cityfi.co/.

MEDIA CONTACT
Dallen McLemore, Communications Specialist, The Ray
229.449.6168 | dallen@theray.org | @TheRayHighway

HERSHEY, Pa., June 29, 2023 /3BL/ – The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) proudly announced recently that its U.S. business has been Certified™ by Great Place to Work®. This distinguished honor is determined by feedback from current employees – a direct reflection of their firsthand experience at Hershey.

This year’s survey of current employees noted pride in their work, trust in the brand and excitement in the company’s future as particular strengths for the company. Hershey’s U.S. business joins operations in Canada, Brazil, India, Mexico and Malaysiain earning this certification honor.

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation.

“Great Place to Work® Certification™ is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience,” says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, the Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place to Work. She emphasizes that Certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture. “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that The Hershey Company stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees.”

“Our recognition again by Great Place to Work showcases our commitment to providing our employees a fulfilling experience focused on wellbeing, growth and career advancement,” said Michele Buck, Chief Executive Officer of The Hershey Company. “We believe that an equitable workplace and culture fosters innovation, collaboration and growth – critical drivers which propel us forward on our journey to become a Leading Snacking Powerhouse.”

Hershey’s workforce is driven by a people-first culture of co-creation – empowering employees to embrace their authentic selves, take ownership of their work and unlock career potential. The company recognizes that its people are its greatest asset, actively investing in professional development and upskilling opportunities. Below are recent achievements and initiatives around Hershey’s employee experience:

Say Hola: Hershey promotes an equitable and accessible workplace by actively investing in employee development programs and adapting its facilities to accommodate different needs. Last year, the company launched its first U.S. bilingual manufacturing facility in Hazleton, Pa. ‘Say Hola’ is a proof point of the company’s people-first manufacturing vision.National Veterans Business Development Council: Hershey’s legacy of supporting the U.S. military dates back to World War I, when the company supplied chocolate to U.S. soldiers. Today, veterans continue to be a key part of our workforce, bringing unique perspectives and experiences. In 2022, under the guidance of our Veteran Business Resource Group (BRG), we partnered with the National Veterans Business Development Council – bolstering our access to diverse supplier networks. In 2023, we aim to deepen these ties and expand military-affiliated hiring across all roles with increasing our veteran hiring goal from 6% to 10. This effort underlines our commitment to diversity and support for those transitioning from military to civilian life.Parental Leave: Hershey is committed to supporting employees and their families through a set of competitive benefits, helping them be well, plan for their future, and balance work and life. As part of this commitment, the company increased salaried parental leave to up to 20 weeks in 2023.

“Great Place to Work® Certification™ underscores our commitment to creating a workplace where our employees can reach their full potential,” said Chris Scalia, Chief Human Resources Officer, The Hershey Company. “We know our people can be their best when they feel their best. This means working to make sure everyone here feels supported, inspired and valued. To do this, we are constantly evolving to build a culture that values diversity, builds careers and embraces a strong sense of community.”

According to Great Place to Work® research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company’s profits and have a fair chance at promotion.

We’re hiring!

Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit our careers page at: careers.thehersheycompany.com.

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania and is an industry-leading snacks company known for making more moments of goodness through its iconic brands, remarkable people and enduring commitment to doing the right thing for its people, planet and communities. Hershey has nearly 20,000 employees in the U.S. and around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, high-quality products. The company has more than 100 brand names in approximately 80 countries worldwide that drive more than $10.4 billion in annual revenues, including Hershey’s, Reese’s, Kit Kat®, Jolly Rancher and Ice Breakers, and fast-growing salty snacks including SkinnyPop,Pirate’s BootyandDot’sHomestyle Pretzels.

For more than 125 years,Hersheyhas been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. The candy and snack maker’s founder,Milton Hershey, createdMilton Hershey Schoolin 1909 and since then the company has focused on helping children succeed through equitable access to education.

About Great Place to Work® Certification™

Great Place to Work® Certification™is the most definitive “employer-of-choice” recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience – specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work® Certification™ is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place to Work-Certified™.

About Great Place to Work®

As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place to Work® brings 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Their proprietary platform and For All™ Model helps companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place to Work-Certified™ or receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces™ List.

Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and follow Great Place to Work on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

SOURCE The Hershey Company