JACKSON, Mich., Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy announced today that it has been ranked among the top energy providers in the world for sustainable environmental, social and economic practices.
Rankings from Sustainalytics, a leading global research firm that measures sustainable business practices for investors, place Consumers Energy 14th out of 226 energy providers worldwide.
"Our Promise is to care for the Michigan communities we serve in every Lower Peninsula county. That starts with doing right from a business perspective, and also making sure Michigan residents can shape our environmental and community efforts," said
Dennis Dobbs
, Consumers Energy's vice president of generation engineering and services.
"We are working with the communities we serve, local leaders and regulators to preserve and protect Michigan's people and natural resources."
This week, Consumers Energy is serving as premier sponsor for an international conference on business sustainability at Saginaw Valley State University. Dobbs will be speaking at the conference, and other company representatives will take part in events today through Friday.
Other examples of Consumers Energy's commitment to sustainability:
- Improving air and water quality -- Michigan's air is the cleanest it has been in a generation, thanks in part to reduced emissions from the company's power plants. That work will continue, with the company plan to reduce carbon emissions by more than 20 percent and mercury by 80 percent. Consumers Energy also plans to reduce its water intensity by 20 percent by 2020.
- Developing renewable energy – Consumers Energy will open its second wind farm, Cross Winds® Energy Park, this fall. This addition should help Consumers Energy to generate 10 percent of its electricity from renewable sources a year ahead of schedule. The company has more than 200 contracts with Michigan homes and businesses that provide solar energy, and it started an anaerobic digester program with Michigan farms this year.
- Caring for communities – Employees, retirees, the company and foundation gave more than $8 million to Michigan nonprofits last year. Employees led a record Walk for Warmth campaign this spring and donated 50,000 hours of community service last year to local charities and non-profits. The company is also supporting various United Way organizations this fall.
- Supply chain -- Developing a more sustainable supply chain to help improve the environmental and social performance of suppliers.
"'Leaving it better than we found it' is a frequently used saying around our company," Dobbs said, "and it's especially true when it comes to our efforts to sustain our communities and make Michigan a better place to live for generations to come."
Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.5 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
Sustainability video
Watch a video about Consumers Energy's commitment to sustainability: http://youtu.be/8acZS4gNLQQ
Media toolkit
SUSTAINALYTICS: Sustainalytics is an independent research and analysis firm?supporting investors worldwide to develop and implement responsible investment strategies. The company teams with institutional investors who integrate environmental, social and governance assessments into their investment decisions: www.sustainalytics.com
ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION: Consumers Energy is an "environmental champion" among Midwest energy providers: www.ConsumersEnergy.com/News.aspx?id=7316&year=2014
ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT: Read and download our 2014 Accountability Report: www.ConsumersEnergy.com/accountability
For more information about Consumers Energy, go to www.ConsumersEnergy.com, join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ConsumersEnergyMichigan and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/ConsumersEnergy.
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in Rule 3b-6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Rule 175 of the Securities Act of 1933, and relevant legal decisions. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of the risk and other factors detailed from time to time in Consumers Energy's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction with "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION" and "RISK FACTORS" sections of Consumers Energy's Form 10-K each for the year ended December 31, 2013 and as updated in Consumers Energy's subsequent Forms 10-Q.
Consumers Energy's "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION" and "RISK FACTORS" sections are incorporated herein by reference and discuss important factors that could cause Consumers Energy's results to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
SOURCE Consumers Energy