Here is today’s sustainability news, research and analysis for technology partners; renewable energy and green IT service providers; management consultants; CIOs; chief sustainability officers (CSOs) and c-suite members.
A. Sustainable Technology, Talent, Partnerships and Green IT Alliances
1. Board of Directors: Pamela Fletcher, a former Delta Airlines senior VP and chief sustainability officer (CSO), will join the Chemours Company board of directors. Fletcher will succeed board member Sandra Phillips on March 1, 2024.
2. Executive Leadership - Consulting: Mace has hired Porie Saikia as Americas sustainability lead for rail transit, and Gaspar Cabrera as Americas associate director for responsible business. The sustainability-focused hires will support Mace's "growing consultancy in the Americas.
3. Cloud Software: Salesforce has introduced Clean Energy Program Management for the Energy & Utilities Cloud. The new solution "streamlines the launch, management, and oversight of energy efficiency, conservation, electrification, and EV charging programs to help electric, gas, and water utilities increase customer participation in clean energy programs," Salesforce said.
4. Layoffs - Renewable Energy: SinglePoint plans to cut some employees while also acquiring the remaining 19.9% interest in Boston Solar. Those and other moves are designed to help SinglePoint achieve operational profitability, the company said.
5. How to Promote Diversity: Procter & Gamble CEO Jon Moeller told Wall Street analysts that changing the dialogue to "winning" from "social justice" would be a more effective way to promote women and diverse people, Reuters reported.
B. Sustainability M&A, Investments, Funding and Green IT Business Launches
1. Funding: Antora Energy, a provider of zero-emissions industrial heat and power, has raised $150 million in Series B funding. Decarbonization Partners, a partnership between BlackRock and Temasek -- led the round.
2. Funding - Sustainability Data: BeCause, a Danish start-up that helps the global hospitality, travel, and tourism industries manage their sustainability data, has secured a $600,000 (€556,000) tail-end investment from Dutch investor Curiosity VC to close their seed round, BeCause said. Total seed funding now stands at $2.5 million (€2.32 million), including the $1.9 million (€1.76 million) seed raised in November 2023 from Denmark's Ugly Duckling Ventures, Estonia's Superangel.io and other investors, BeCause added.
3. Nasdaq Delisting - EV Charging Infrastructure: Amid a sagging share price, Charge Enterprises expects to be delisted from the Nasdaq on February 29. The company anticipates that after delisting, Charge Enterprises stock will be quoted on the OTC Pink Market under the symbol “CRGE”. The delisting comes roughly three months after Charge Enterprises began to explore a potential company sale in late 2023. Founder Andrew Fox resigned as chairman and CEO in August 2023. Fox's resignation arrived amid pressure from activist firm Arena Investors.
4. Climate Investor Challenges: The world's biggest climate investor group -- known as Climate Action 100+ -- has told members its approach does not breach U.S. antitrust and securities law, Reuters reported. The group is seeking to shore up support days after the shock exit of several large firms, Reuters noted.
5. M&A - Green Hydrogen: NextChem will acquire 80% of HyDep and 100% of Dragoni Group for €3.6 million (US$3.9 million). NextChem also has the option to potentially acquire the remaining 20% stake in HyDep. The acquisitions will "further strengthen" NextChem's green hydrogen expertise.
6. M&A - Digital Twin Technology: Capgemini will acquire the digital twin professional services business from Unity. Customers often use digital twin software to simulate various energy and carbon footprint scenarios for their physical products and infrastructure.
7. M&A - Consulting and Engineering Services: Tetra Tech has acquired LS Technologies, a provider of government technology and management consulting services. Tetra Tech specializes in water, environment and sustainable infrastructure services.
8. Complete M&A List: Here's our database of all M&A deals involving sustainability, green IT and renewable energy buyers, sellers and investors.
C. Regional and Global Sustainability Policies and News
1. United States - Renewable Energy Growth: Power generated from renewable sources of energy is setting new records in the U.S., and is expected to keep growing as wind and solar become the preferred options to replace coal power generation, The Wall Street Journal reported.
2. United States - Massachusetts Wind Power: Avangrid has activated five wind turbines to deliver clean energy to 30,000 homes, the company said.
3. United Kingdom: The UK will pull out of a controversial post-Cold War energy treaty after talks to bring the accord in line with the country’s climate goals stalled, Bloomberg reported. Britain’s decision to leave the Energy Charter Treaty follows similar moves by other European countries in recent years, the report said.
4. Middle East - Renewable Energy Partnership: Array Technologies and Aluminum Products Company (ALUPCO) are partnering to "support the growing market for renewable energy projects in the Middle East.
D. Sustainability and Green Technology Conference Calendar
- Distributech International 2024 Conference (February 26-29, Orlando, Florida)
- Sage Transform 2024 Conference (February 26-29, Las Vegas)
- Columbia University: SUMASA Annual Sustainability Symposium 2024 (March 1, New York)
- UCONN Global Business Leadership in Sustainability Summit 2024 (March 1, Connecticut)
- Economist Impact Energy Transition Summit 2024 (March 4, London, United Kingdom)
- Complete Calendar of Sustainability Conferences
E. Previous Updates & Future News
- Did You Miss Yesterday's Daily Update?: Here is our previous sustainability, green IT and renewable energy news for technology partners.
- Future Updates: If you have news to share then please email me the details.
