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House Passes Energy Bill, Cuts EPA Funding

The House spent two days debating its version of the energy bill (H.R. 6) before passing it on 4/21 by a vote of 249-183. The bill is largely identical to energy bills that the House has passed in two previous Congresses. The bill would continue to promote polluting energy industries through tax breaks and subsidies at the expense of investments in clean, renewable fuels. Approximately 95 percent of the $8 billion in tax breaks would go to the oil, gas, coal and nuclear industries, while just slightly over five percent would go to renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency. In total, the bill would provide more than $22 billion to polluting energy interests. By a vote of 200-231, the House rejected an amendment offered by Rep. Markey (D-MA) to strike language authorizing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The House also defeated an attempt by Rep. Solis (D-CA) to strike language that would allow expedited construction of oil refineries in low-income neighborhoods, as well as an amendment offered by Rep. Boehlert (R-NY) that would have increased vehicle fuel efficiency. Congress has not raised the fuel efficiency standard for cars and trucks in at least 15 years, even though […]

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Potlatch Corporation Receives Certification of 437,000 Acres

Potlatch Corporation (NYSE:PCH) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer L. Pendleton Siegel today was presented with documentation that management of the company’s 473,000 acres of forestland in Arkansas has been third-party audited and certified under the rigorous environmental, social and economic standards of the internationally recognized Forest Stewardship Council. SmartWood, an FSC-accredited certifier, and program of the Rainforest Alliance, granted the certification. In addition, the company’s pine sawmill at Warren, Arkansas, has received FSC’s chain-of-custody certification and is therefore authorized to market its southern yellow pine dimensional lumber products with the FSC label. The Arkansas certification follows by one year the precedent-setting FSC certification of Potlatch’s 667,000 acres in Idaho along with chain-of-custody certification of the company’s Idaho lumber and plywood manufacturing operations. “There appears to be a growing trend among large building products retailers, secondary manufacturers, architects, contractors and governments at all levels toward preferences for certified products, including FSC-certified products,” Siegel stated. He noted that Arkansas Governor Huckabee had recently signed legislation that promotes the conservation of natural resources through the use of sustainable building rating systems. “This trend fits well with Potlatch’s commitment to forestland stewardship, and we expect to grow with it,” he said. Siegel added that […]

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Xerox Pledges to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 10%

Consistent with its long-standing record of environmental stewardship, Xerox Corporation (NYSE:XRX) has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its worldwide operations by 10 percent from the baseline year 2002 to the end of 2012. This aggressive voluntary reduction target is aligned with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program and The Business Roundtable’s Climate RESOLVE program, which Xerox joined in 2003. And it complements the company’s ongoing environmental programs, which include products designed for energy efficiency and innovative remanufacturing and recycling practices. “While the absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions will be a challenge – requiring a 30 percent or more improvement in energy efficiency compared with 2002 levels – it is the right thing for Xerox to do,” said Anne M. Mulcahy, Xerox chairman and chief executive officer. “As energy and fuel costs rise, consciously working to further control Xerox’s energy-related costs is environmentally responsible and financially smart.” Xerox’s greenhouse gas emissions – gaseous compounds in the atmosphere that trigger global climate change – result from use of fossil fuels and purchased electricity for power. About three-quarters of Xerox’s total comes from its U.S. operations. The company projects it could save or avoid spending millions of dollars […]

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