1. Home
  2. Articles posted by: Rona Fried (Page 2155)

Starbucks Receives 2005 World Environment Center Gold Medal for Corporate Sustainable Development

The World Environment Center (WEC) has selected Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq: SBUX) to receive its 21st Annual Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development for international leadership in sustainable development within the specialty coffee industry. This leadership is demonstrated in the company’s development of Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices, a set of environmentally, socially and economically responsible coffee buying guidelines created in conjunction with Conservation International that are designed to contribute positively to the livelihoods of coffee farmers while placing an emphasis on environmental conservation and supply chain transparency. Coffee affects the lives of over 25 million farmers in more than 70 countries around the world, many of which are developing regions. Traditional coffee production methods can often adversely affect the surrounding environment through the use of harmful chemicals and unnecessary deforestation. Although Starbucks Coffee Company purchases only two percent of the world’s coffee, Starbucks has used its position in the global marketplace to demonstrate how innovation in combining corporate social responsibility and business strategy can lead to long-term economic and environmental sustainability. “Contributing positively to our communities and environment is at the heart of Starbucks,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks Chairman. “Starbucks is committed to constantly improving […]

Read More

U.S. Wind Industry Announces 2004 Progress

The U.S. wind energy industry added 389 megawatts (MW) of new generating equipment in 2004, or enough to serve more than 100,000 average homes, according to the Washington, D.C.-based American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Total new additions were down sharply from the highs in the boom years of 2001 (1,696 MW) and 2003 (1,687 MW). At year’s end, the trade group said, utility-scale wind installations in 30 states across the country totalled 6,740 MW, enough to serve more than 1.6 million households. The small but burgeoning industry is hard at work planning projects that should make 2005 a record year in terms of new wind generating capability in the U.S. According to AWEA, over 2,000 MW of new wind power capacity is likely to be added during the coming year, or enough to power more than 540,000 homes. The most recent extension of the federal wind energy production tax credit (PTC) by Congress in October, 2004, teed up 2005 for an impressive growth spurt, which will bring economic development activity in rural areas, more diversity to the nation’s generating mix to reduce fuel price volatility, and clear environmental benefits to a nation that continues to demand new electricity sources. AWEA […]

Read More

Hydrogen Future Drives Into The Big Apple

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles — and the hydrogen stations to support them — are coming to New York, thanks to a plan rolled out by General Motors Corp. and Shell Hydrogen LLC. GM will provide 13 fuel cell-powered vehicles and Shell Hydrogen LLC intends to establish New York State’s first hydrogen service station in the New York City metropolitan area in 2006, which is anticipated to involve installing a portable hydrogen-refueling module at an existing Shell station. GM and Shell will be the only team bringing fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen refueling to the New York City metropolitan area under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Project. The New York fleet is part of a total of 40 vehicles that GM is building under the DOE program. GM will also introduce fleets in California and the Detroit metro area and expand the current Washington D.C. fleet, which today includes six HydroGen3 vehicles. In addition to the New York station, under this program Shell will provide two hydrogen refueling stations in California, and a fourth station will be located somewhere between New York and Washington D.C. According to Jeremy Bentham, Shell Hydrogen’s CEO, “The only way the hydrogen […]

Read More

ExxonMobil & Green Mountain Coffee Sign Long-Term Supply Agreement

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMCR) announced it has signed an exclusive long-term supply agreement with ExxonMobil to provide over 1,100 ExxonMobil company operated locations and On The Run franchises in the United States with its high quality specialty coffees. In 2000, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters signed its initial long-term supply agreement with ExxonMobil. Since the signing of the original agreement between the two companies, ExxonMobil has continued to expand and refine its convenience store operations both in the U.S. and internationally. In 2004, ExxonMobil announced the opening of its 1,000th On The Run convenience store worldwide. In 2003, Convenience Store Decisions Magazine named On The Run the “2003 Convenience Store Chain of the Year.” Today’s announcement reaffirms the working relationship between Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. and ExxonMobil that has been successful for the past four years. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. is a leader in the specialty coffee industry and offers over 100 coffee selections including estate, certified organic, Fair Trade Certified(TM), signature blends, and flavored coffees that it sells under the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Newman’s Own Organics brands.

Read More