Energy Exchange

Financial Sector Focuses on Risks from Methane

By EDF Blogs / Published: July 2, 2014

By: Sean Wright, Senior Analyst, Corporate Partnerships

Source: Ash Waechter

Source: Ash Waechter

Environmental concerns about methane emissions continue to grow as more people understand the negative climate implications of this incredibly potent greenhouse gas. Now the financial community is taking note of not only the environmental risks but the impact of methane emissions on the oil and gas industry’s bottom line. Methane leaks not only pollute the atmosphere, but every thousand cubic feet lost represents actual dollars being leaked into thin air—bad business any way you look at it.

Last week the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)—a collaborative effort aimed at improving corporate performance on environmental, social and government issues—released their provisional accounting standards for the non-renewable resources sector, which includes oil and gas production.

These accounting standards guide companies on how to measure and disclose environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks that impact a company’s financial performance. Their work highlights the growing demand amongst investors and stakeholders for companies to report information beyond mere financial metrics in order to provide a more holistic view of a company’s position.

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Posted in Energy Financing, Methane, Natural Gas / Tagged , , | Read 4 Responses

Clean Energy Conferences Roundup: July 2014

By EDF Blogs / Published: July 1, 2014
Source: National Retail Federation Flickr

Source: National Retail Federation Flickr

Each month, the Energy Exchange rounds up a list of top clean energy conferences around the country. Our list includes conferences at which experts from the EDF Clean Energy Program will be speaking, plus additional events that we think our readers may benefit from marking on their calendars.

Top clean energy conferences featuring EDF experts in July:

July 1: Alliance to Save Energy Congressional Briefing, Washington, DC
Speaker: Elgie Holstein, Senior Director for Strategic Planning

  • This summer the Alliance to Save Energy will be bringing Energy 2030 to Capitol Hill, hosting a series of congressional briefings focused on the three pillars of Energy 2030 – invest, modernize, and educate. The briefings will invite elected officials and their staff to speak with Alliance Associates and Energy 2030 supporters about innovative financing mechanisms (June), high-performance buildings (July) and benchmarking, rating & disclosure (August). Read More »
Posted in Clean Energy, Conference Roundup / Comments are closed

New York Energy Week Gives Clear Vision of Modern, Clean Energy Future

By EDF Blogs / Published: June 24, 2014

nyew1

By: Max Wycisk, Communications Intern

The second annual New York Energy Week, held last week, brought together more than 4,000 industry leaders and innovators – double the number last year – to discuss the dynamic changes the state’s energy sector has seen in the last twelve months, including the state’s historic move to re-examine its utility business model. In a series of panel discussions held throughout New York City, state, national, and international energy leaders reviewed key topics such as energy storage, building efficiency, and the rapidly evolving utility industry itself. While the topic of discussion varied, a number of consistent themes emerged, giving attendees a clear vision of the steps industry is taking toward adopting a modern, decentralized, clean energy future.

Communication drives innovation

One of the main themes of the conference, which was organized by research firm Enerknol, was the shift in how the energy industry will interact with consumers as well as the way in which it interacts with itself. Speakers frequently described the current energy industry as ‘fragmented’ or ‘acting within silos’ and questions arose at nearly every panel about how to stimulate conversation between different energy sectors that will lead to collaboration, investment, and innovation. Read More »

Posted in Clean Energy, Demand Response, Energy Efficiency, Energy Financing, Grid Modernization, New York, Renewable Energy, Utility Business Models / Tagged | Read 2 Responses

EPA’s Authority to Limit Carbon Pollution from Power Plants Is Well Established and Widely Recognized

By EDF Blogs / Published: June 17, 2014

By: Megan Ceronsky, EDF attorney, and Peter Heisler, legal fellow 

Gavel_iStock000003633182Medium1The bedrock legal authority underlying the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan is broadly recognized — by our nation’s highest court, states, power companies, academic experts, and the EPA General Counsel serving during the President George H.W. Bush administration.

Our recent Climate 411 post chronicles the Supreme Court’s decisions affirming EPA’s authority to address carbon pollution from power plants under section 111 of the Clean Air Act.

In Massachusetts v. EPA (2007), the Court held that carbon dioxide is a pollutant under the Clean Air Act.  Then, in AEP v. Connecticut (2011), the Court explicitly recognized EPA’s authority to limit emissions of carbon dioxide from power plants pursuant to section 111, and acknowledged the agency’s ongoing efforts to do so. Read More »

Posted in Air Quality, Clean Energy, Clean Power Plan, Climate / Tagged , | Comments are closed

Clean Energy Conferences Roundup: June 2014

By EDF Blogs / Published: June 2, 2014
Source: National Retail Federation Flickr

Source: National Retail Federation Flickr

Each month, the Energy Exchange rounds up a list of top clean energy conferences around the country. Our list includes conferences at which experts from the EDF Clean Energy Program will be speaking, plus additional events that we think our readers may benefit from marking on their calendars.

Top clean energy conferences featuring EDF experts in June:

June 16-20: New York Energy Week, New York City, NY

Speaker: Rory Christian, Director, New York Clean Energy

  • New York Energy Week was founded by Energy Solutions Forum (ESF), an energy policy research and data company based in the New York City Accelerator for a Clean and Resilient Economy incubator, an anchor of New York’s energy startup community. New York Energy Week is an integral part of ESF’s founding mission to support investment and collaboration among the diverse sectors of the energy industry. The ongoing industry initiative culminates in a week of industry-generated events, all around New York City. Read More »
Posted in Clean Energy, Conference Roundup / Read 1 Response

EDF Climate Corps Heads Overseas: Next Stop China

By EDF Blogs / Published: May 20, 2014

By: Liz Delaney, Senior Manager, EDF Climate Corps Operations

Reinhard Krause / Reuters

Reinhard Krause / Reuters

China is, in many ways, the epicenter of the world’s efforts to curb climate change. The rapidly growing nation’s need for energy is soaring – demand is expected to double by 2020 – and China has surpassed the United States to become the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.

So it makes total sense for the Environmental Defense Fund to expand its unique fellowship program, Climate Corps, to China this summer to help leading global brands there find energy efficiency and sustainability solutions that help them thrive. EDF is partnering with Apple, Wal-Mart, McDonald’s, Cummins and Legrand in China, initially placing six graduate students to work with the companies. Read More »

Posted in Air Quality, Clean Energy, Climate, Energy Efficiency / Tagged , | Comments are closed