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Four S.F. Bay Area Companies Receive Top Honors from EPA for Climate Work

Release Date: 02/28/2013
Contact Information: David Yogi, Ph: (415) 972-3350, yogi.david@epa.gov

Wells Fargo, Cisco Systems, Intel, Sonoma County Water Agency Honored with Leadership Awards

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Center for Corporate Climate Leadership, the Association of Climate Change Officers, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, and The Climate Registry today presented their second annual Climate Leadership Awards to four San Francisco Bay Area companies—Wells Fargo & Company, Cisco Systems, Inc., Intel Corporation, and Sonoma County Water Agency—for leadership in reducing carbon pollution and addressing climate change.

"The Climate Leadership Award winners are taking extra steps with their outstanding actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that harm the environment and threaten public health," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "We are proud to recognize these companies and local government agency for serving as models for their peers."

The four Bay Area companies recognized today are among 23 winners announced nationwide. The national awards program honors corporate, organizational, and individual leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in internal operations and throughout the supply chain. The organizations recognized represent a wide array of industries, including construction, finance, defense, transportation, retail, energy and technology.

The organizations were recognized in the following categories:

Organizational Leadership Award

Sonoma County Water Agency
The Sonoma County Water Agency provides naturally filtered drinking water, flood protection services, distribution of recycled water, recreational opportunities, and wastewater treatment to over 600,000 residents of Sonoma and Marin counties in California. In 2006, the Agency committed to operating a carbon-free water system by 2015, and has participated in leadership capacities at a state and local level on multiple environmental coalitions. To further its efforts, nationally, the Agency initiated, helped establish, and supports a non-profit network of counties and cities that identify and share innovative clean energy projects, programs, and financial mechanisms.

Intel Corporation
Intel exceeded its recent goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 20 percent below 2007 levels by the end of 2012, achieving a 60 percent reduction, and since 2008, it has been the largest purchaser of renewable energy in the U.S. The company’s annual green power usage is 100 percent of Intel's total annual U.S. electricity use, and through these renewable energy purchases Intel has helped to create demand for wind, solar, and other renewable technologies. Further, by building energy efficiency directly into its products, Intel is also able to help its customers reduce energy use and GHG emissions.

Supply Chain Leadership Award

Cisco Systems, Inc.
Cisco Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells internet protocol-based networking and other products. Since 2010, Cisco has requested its suppliers report to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), an independent nonprofit organization working to reduce GHG, and the company’s long-term objective is for all suppliers (and their business partners) to publicly report to CDP and set their own GHG reduction goals. Suppliers publicly reporting to CDP are favored when Cisco is deciding whether to conduct future business with a company, and in 2012, Cisco achieved its 25 percent GHG reduction goal.

Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management (Goal Setting Certificate)

Wells Fargo & Company
Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance services. Wells Fargo adopted a new goal of reducing its U.S. GHG emissions by 35 percent from 2008 to 2020. The company intends to meet this goal with energy efficiency improvements to its office space and data centers, and plans to consolidate office space, reducing the total number of square feet.

The awards will be presented at the Climate Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.

More about the recognition categories and the Climate Leadership Award winners: www.epa.gov/climateleadership/awards/

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