Investor scraps 1,700-job wind power project
Britain’s nascent wind industry has received a serious setback after a major foreign investor scrapped plans for a research centre and turbine factories that would have created 1,700 jobs – 12 months after giving them the green light. Doosan Power Systems of Korea blamed deteriorating confidence in offshore wind for its decision to suspend construction of a £170 million “centre of excellence” in Glasgow and long-term plans for manufacturing.
The Guardian p26 http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/apr/18/wind-industry-setback-doosan-plans?INTCMP=SRCH
RBS touts position as UK’s top renewables lender
RBS has revealed that it oversaw a surge in lending to renewable energy projects last year, accounting for around a quarter of all bank investment in the sector and establishing the company as the largest lender to renewables projects in the UK. The bank today released its annual sustainability report, confirming that independent research from Infrastructure Journal had crowned RBS as the UK’s largest renewable energy lender with more than $366 million loaned to a wide range of projects.
Business Green http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2168649/rbs-touts-position-uks-renewables-lender
Corporate Reputation
Anglo American urged to act over tuberculosis claims
A South African miner who claims he contracted tuberculosis as a result of digging gold on behalf of Anglo American will use the FTSE 100 company’s annual meeting to demand compensation. Daniel Seabata Thakamakau, will represent more than 1,200 former miners who are suing Anglo American for allegedly failing to provide protection from dangerous levels of dust created by deep-level gold mining between the 1960s and 1990s.
The Guardian p29 http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/18/anglo-american-sued-miner-tuberculosis?INTCMP=SRCH
Environment
Investment giants urge EU to save emissions trading scheme
A group representing many of Europe’s largest institutional investors have written to EU energy and climate change ministers ahead of a crucial meeting in Brussels later today, urging them to take urgent action to restore the credibility and effectiveness of the bloc’s emissions trading scheme (ETS). Ministers are expected to again discuss whether to hold back carbon allowances in order to tackle chronic over supply in the market that has resulted in the price of carbon set by the ETS reaching record lows of under €7 a tonne.
Business Green http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2168748/investment-giants-urge-eu-save-emissions-trading-scheme
Honda recycling rare earths, starts green dealer programme
Honda Motor and Japan Metals & Chemicals announced they have developed a process to recycle earth metals and are starting mass production at a recycling plant. The feedstock to be recycled will come from chemicals they extract from used parts in Honda products. This month, the partners will begin removing rare earth metals from used nickel-metal hydride batteries collected from Honda hybrid vehicles at Honda dealers worldwide.
Sustainable Business http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/23615
McDonald’s celebrates 90 ground-breaking advancements in environmental practices around the world
Reusing air conditioning condensation to water plants. Repurposing advertising banners into fashionable tote bags. Recycling used cooking oil to power generators at a hospital. Today, McDonald’s celebrates these and dozens more examples of passion and innovation in the 2012 Global Best of Green report. Best of Green is a collection of best practices that focus on the environment and provide tangible positive impact for the company’s business and brand.
CSR Wire http://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/34028-McDonald-s-Celebrates-90-Groundbreaking-Advancements-in-Environmental-Practices-Around-the-World
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