Dive Brief:
- NextEra Energy announced on Thursday a carbon emissions rate reduction target of more than 65% from 2001 levels by 2021.
- NextEra has already reduced its carbon dioxide emissions rate by 52% since 2001.
- The company is participating in a new transparency initiative coordinated by the Edison Electric Institute to create investor access to sustainability and environmental data.
Dive Insight:
As climate change awareness grows, companies have seen increasing investor support for sustainable practices. NextEra is already the largest generator of wind and solar renewable energy, and setting a target to further lower its carbon dioxide emissions rate advances the company's environmental agenda.
NextEra's recently released 2017 sustainability report states the company generated 46% more solar and wind energy than the second largest generator. NextEra also has more than 100 MW of battery storage systems in operation.
"We've been reducing emissions for decades through the development of renewable energy and modernizing our generation fleet," CEO Jim Robo said in a statement.
The company boasted its lowest-ever emissions rates for carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide in 2017. NextEra's sustainability report said emissions rates were significantly lower than the U.S. utility sector average — as much as 96% lower for sulfur dioxide and 55% carbon.