Bank of America CEO Kenneth Lewis has been voted 2008’s Fossil Fool of the Year in an online contest sponsored by Rainforest Action Network (RAN), Energy Action Coalition and Co-op America.
Lewis was nominated for the award because of Bank of America’s support for dirty coal. The financial giant is the leading financial backer of mountaintop removal coal mining in the United States and a top funder of new coal-fired power plants.
Overall, more than 6,000 people participated in the contest, and Lewis won a plurality in the Fossil Fool of the Year category by taking 30% of the vote, according to organizers.
His competition for this year’s top prize included General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner, Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, Dynegy CEO Bruce Williamson, and Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach.
"Ken Lewis faced a who’s who list of polluters, but voters deemed him the worst of a very deserving crop. We’ll see if he’s as willing to accept responsibility for his company’s role in the climate crisis as he is to accept praise for its minimal environmental efforts," said Rebecca Tarbotton, director of RAN’s Global Finance Campaign, which is pressuring Bank of America to stop funding the coal industry.
The Fossil Fools Awards, or "Foolies," were established as a means for citizens across the country to voice their discontent with the nation’s current energy priorities.
For instance, in Atlanta, Georgia, youth organization Georgia Students for Sustainability, held a street reception at Georgia Power headquarters to congratulate CEO Michael Garrett for his "Fossil Foolie" award nomination in the category of "Corporate Green-Washing."
His nomination was cited for spending millions of dollars on Georgia Power’s "cONserve" media campaign, while spending less then one half of a percent of annual revenues on energy efficiency programs.
Garrett ultimately lost to GM CEO Rick Wagoner, for his company’s creation of GMNext.com, a website designed to promote GM’s environmental progress even as the company attempted to block the efforts of California and 11 other states to reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions.
Several other corporate and political leaders were singled out as well, including these winners:
Most Inauspicious Newcomer: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) CEO Patricia Woertz, for her company’s newfound recognition as a massive contributor to global warming for its role in clearing pristine rainforests around the world for the production of soy and palm oil, in part for biofuels. Biofuels produced on newly cleared land result in more climate-changing carbon emissions than traditional fossil fuels.
Biggest Human Toll: Cargill CEO Gregory R. Page, for the agribusiness giant’s displacement of frontline communities throughout South America, Southeast Asia and the Pacific to make way for the expansion of its massive soy and palm oil plantations.
Lifetime Achievement: George Bush and Dick Cheney, for their persistent efforts to deny the reality and impacts of global climate change, promote carbon-intensive energy solutions, and block progress toward curbing climate change.
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