Environmental Defense Fund

Walmart Withdraws from ALEC, Wallows in Bribery Scandal

Submitted by Paul Chesser on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 11:07

Mike Duke photo In an unsurprising, capitulatory move last week, Walmart joined several other major companies and withdrew its membership from the American Legislative Exchange Council, which advances the principles of free markets and limited government at the state level through legislative idea exchanges.

The move preceded Friday’s annual shareholder meeting, in which executives emphasized their commitment to principles of integrity. That came into question especially since April, when the New York Times revealed that company officials authorized millions of dollars in bribes in order to expedite building permits and other favors in Mexico.

More Federal Officials Don't Like Natural Gas— This Time in Gas Rich Zone

Submitted by Paul Chesser on Thu, 05/17/2012 - 16:05

Dan Arvizu

As Americans grow increasingly skeptical about global warming, and the availability of shale oil and natural gas is greater than ever in the U.S., a federal official based in Colorado says the climate threat is so dire that electric utilities should not plan long-term for the development of natural gas power plants.

'Crucifying' EPA Regulator was Eager to Inflict Pain

Submitted by Paul Chesser on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 07:16

armendariz The administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 6 office in Dallas, who boasted on video that he sought to “crucify” oil and gas companies as examples much like the Roman empire, has a history of environmental activism and overzealous statements.

Duke Energy Caves In to Pressure Groups’ Demands

Submitted by Paul Chesser on Tue, 12/13/2011 - 23:54

Rogers photo In yet another ploy to overcome opposition to their merger, Duke Energy and Progress Energy agreed with environmental groups last week to a few million more dollars in payoffs for “clean” energy schemes, and to implement energy efficiency programs that would reduce customers’ electricity use by seven percent of retail sales by 2018.

The deal has been planned for months, and when approved by state and federal regulators, will create the largest investor-owned electric utility in the nation. Combined the companies serve residents and businesses in Florida, the Carolinas, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana.

Corporate America Can’t Keep Up with All the Sustainability Demands

Submitted by Paul Chesser on Thu, 12/01/2011 - 07:45

score card The competition in corporate America to show who is “Greenest” or “most sustainable” has spun out of control, with the Alinskyite effect that drives corporations to spend vast amounts of time and money trying to address the whims and requests of every Leftist niche group that waves some kind of scorecard in their faces.

Duke Energy Juggernaut Won't Stop Shakedown Artists

Submitted by Paul Chesser on Mon, 09/26/2011 - 11:02

Jim Rogers photo If it wasn’t already obvious, then a report in Friday’s Raleigh News & Observer about the merger hearings between Duke Energy and Progress Energy into the nation’s largest utility makes it clear: That Duke’s strategy is continued growth into “a political juggernaut.”

That’s what came out of the final day of testimony about the deal before the North Carolina Utilities Commission, which appears to be the final major hurdle for the merger’s approval. The N&O cited “hints” by company executives about “further acquisitions down the road,” in which Duke would wield even more power than they do now.

Duke - Progress Merger Provides Shakedown Opportunity for Activists

Submitted by Paul Chesser on Wed, 09/14/2011 - 15:49

Rogers photo It seemed the merger of Duke Energy and Progress Energy into the nation’s largest (by several measures) utility would sail through by the end of this year, but several activists in North Carolina have intervened at the last minute. The moves by environmental groups to extract funds for their pet projects out of the deal would make shakedown artists proud. Among the organizations – who have myriad methods of wringing dollars from taxpayers through lawsuits and corporate campaign-type pressure tactics – are Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund, and Southern Environmental Law Center.

Walmart Heirs Fund Anti-Fishing Activists

Submitted by Paul Chesser on Wed, 08/24/2011 - 12:51

Walmart logo Recently NLPC reported that Walmart’s top “sustainability” adviser, who provided significant help in getting the company’s “Green” credibility with environmentalist groups in gear, was Jib Ellison – a former wilderness expeditionist and river guide, and author of a guide on whitewater rafting. The story of his relationship with Walmart, which began with the introduction of Ellison by Rob Walton (son of founder Sam) to former company CEO Lee Scott, is documented in the new book Force of Nature: The Unlikely Story of Walmart’s Green Revolution by Edward Humes.

Duke Energy Can Burn Forests for ‘Green’ Credits

Submitted by Paul Chesser on Wed, 08/10/2011 - 16:20

forest fire photo It’s (once again) the law of unintended consequences for Green groups: In order to fulfill a 2007 state mandate that they derive 12.5 percent of electricity from so-called “renewable” sources, a North Carolina appeals court has ruled that Duke Energy – which will soon be more or less the only investor-owned utility in the Tar Heel state – may burn whole trees to comply with the regulation.

Green Pressure Groups Want More Corporate Climate Disclosure

Submitted by Paul Chesser on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 11:37

Ceres logo Environmental pressure group Ceres, whose primary activity is to drive corporations to report their greenhouse gas emitting activities and disclose climate risk in their Securities and Exchange Commission filings, recently released a report that outlines exactly what companies should be disclosing.