Wells Fargo Announces Environmental Financing in 2011

News Release

Wells Fargo Announces Record $2.8 Billion in Environmental Financing in 2011 
Company surpasses $11.7 billion since 2005; releases 2011 Environmental Finance Report

SAN FRANCISCO — March 20, 2012

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced a record $2.8 billion in loan commitments and tax equity financing in 2011 to businesses and projects with a direct positive impact on the environment. That brings Wells Fargo’s total environmental financing and investments to $11.7 billion since 2005, when the company first announced a dedicated environmental financing commitment.

In its latest Environmental Finance Report, released today, the company announced that since 2005 it has extended more than $3.8 billion in debt and equity commitments to U.S. - based renewable energy projects, nearly $2.1 billion to customers who develop or support environmentally beneficial products and services, and over $5.8 billion in construction and term financing for buildings that have received or are designed to receive LEED® certification. Today’s announcement of $11.7 billion in loans and investments represents total capital made available to environmental markets by business units across the company.

“Exciting recent developments in renewable energy, green building, and other environmental markets are providing a strong base to stimulate global economic growth and facilitate the flow of important financial support for a variety of green enterprises,” said Barry Neal, head ofWells Fargo Environmental Finance. “As our investments and lending activity demonstrate, Wells Fargo has long recognized this opportunity and the need to support our customers, who are leading the way in creating a better, more sustainable future.”

In 2011, Wells Fargo provided the following in loans and investments to environmental markets:

·         Approximately $450 million in tax equity deployed to solar photovoltaic projects, doubling total investment in the sector to more than $9oo million

·         Approximately $200 million in wind project tax equity investments, increasing total wind investment to date to more than $1.6 billion

·         Over $1.5 billion in loans to LEED®-certified commercial buildings and community development projects

·         More than $150 million in loans to commercial banking and community banking cleantech customers

In addition to increasing its financial commitments, Wells Fargo continues to expand new product offerings, such as renewable energy construction financing and cleantech insurance brokerage, while building upon its core traditional banking services for companies in these sectors. The company’s multiple cleantech-focused groups and regional teams work together to support green enterprises as they fuel the development of a cleaner economy.

Wells Fargo’s services for environmental customers are provided by a variety of business groups around the world, including: 

·         Wells Fargo Environmental Finance § National Cleantech Group

·         Community Lending Investment § Public Finance and Sustainable Public Infrastructure

·         Real Estate Banking and Real Estate Capital Markets

·         Wells Fargo Securities Renewable Energy Group

·         Wells Fargo Equipment Finance and Commercial Asset Leasing and Financing

·         Wells Fargo Insurance Services

To access the complete report, please visit: 
http://blog.wellsfargo.com/environment/2012/03/hot_off_the_presses_our_2011_environmental_finance_report.html

About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.3 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com), and other distribution channels across North America and internationally. With more than 270,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in America. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 23 on Fortune’s 2011 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially.

Post from Dept. of Energy Blog

Taking a Tour of Wilmington's Energy-Efficient Spaces

February 28, 2012 - 11:30am

Roya Stanley (left) on a tour of the Snipes Academy of Arts and Design with the building's architect -- Thomas Hughes. Through interactive real-time energy data tools, Snipes students incorporate energy use data in their classroom projects and studies. | Photo Courtesy of the Cape Fear Green Building Alliance.

Roya Stanley

Director, Policy and Technical Assistance

I
n Wilmington, North Carolina, local institutions are leading the way in building efficiency and sustainability. From the WAVE Transit Forden Station to the Wilmington Convention Center to the city’s street sweeper complex, Wilmington is saving money by saving energy and supporting job growth in energy efficiency technologies. 
 


Last week, I experienced first-hand how Wilmington public buildings are leveraging energy efficiency and clean energy technologies to save money and reduce energy waste. I joined Representative Mike McIntyre, Mayor Bill Saffo and Joy Allen, executive director of the Cape Fear Green Building Alliance, on a tour of the city’s energy efficient buildings. 
 


At the Forden Station -- the first LEED Gold registered public building to break ground in the state of North Carolina -- on-site geothermal heating and cooling systems have helped reduce energy consumption by 45 percent. Snipes Academy of Arts and Design utilizes a water source heat pump system and outside air system for the school’s heating and cooling. Through interactive real-time energy data tools, Snipes students incorporate energy use data in their classroom projects and studies. 
 


Reducing energy waste in buildings is an important element for a sustainable energy future. In the United States, buildings consume about 40 percent of all U.S. energy, contributing a significant amount to overall energy costs. In Wilmington, the Cape Fear Green Building Alliance is helping train local energy auditors and building analysts to conduct energy efficiency upgrades and capture the savings. 
 


Nationally, through the Better Buildings Challenge, more than 60 companies, cities, universities, hospitals and other partners have committed to upgrading more than 1.6 billion square feet of building space across the country -- which will jobs, eliminate waste and help make our commercial and industrial buildings 20 percent more efficient by 2020. 



Check out more on the Better Buildings Challenge HERE.

Union Pacific Center Receives LEED Certification

News release from Union Pacific:

Union Pacific Center Receives Silver LEED Certification

Omaha, Neb., February 14, 2012 – Union Pacific Center received the Silver certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Existing Buildings rating system. Union Pacific's headquarters location, Union Pacific Center, is a 19-story, 1,318,471 square-foot building completed in 2004 with a capacity of approximately 4,000 employees. It is the largest LEED certified building in Nebraska and just the second building in the state to earn LEED Existing Building certification.

In addition, Union Pacific Center's current 76 ENERGY STAR rating means the facility is more energy efficient than 76 percent of similar U.S. office buildings.

"Wise energy use is just as important in our office buildings as it is operating our trains," said Jim Young, Union Pacific Chairman and CEO. "As Union Pacific celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2012, our employees more than ever are committed to and engaged in environmental stewardship. We are proud of achieving this LEED certification."

Union Pacific Center received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification based on the following accomplishments:

• Optimizing energy performance by completing projects to save 741,455 kilowatt hours annually, reducing energy consumption by 3 percent.
• Reducing potable water consumption by 550,000 gallons in 2011compared to 2010.
• Improving the energy efficiency of the building's lighting by using bulbs that have 50 percent less mercury content and longer life, as well as LED lighting that eliminates mercury.
• Recycling 81 percent of all construction waste.
• Purchasing 88 percent of office furnishings that meet LEED sustainability criteria.
• Increasing solid waste recycling from 53 percent to 68 percent, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills.
• Implementing a green cleaning program that emphasizes the use of sustainable cleaning products having a lower environmental impact to achieve a hygienic and safe indoor environment.  A total of 77 percent of all cleaning products meet standards for sustainability.

About Union Pacific

It was 150 years ago that Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act of July 1,1862, creating the original Union Pacific. One of America's iconic companies, today, Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP), linking 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail and providing freight solutions and logistics expertise to the global supply chain. From 2000 through 2011, Union Pacific spent more than $31 billion on its network and operations, making needed investments in America's infrastructure and enhancing its ability to provide safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible freight transportation. Union Pacific's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers and emphasizes excellent customer service. Union Pacific operates competitive routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways.

JPMorgan Chase Achieves LEED Platinum Certification

New release from JPMorgan Chase:

January 18, 2012

JPMorgan Chase Achieves LEED^® Platinum Green Building Certification for Newly Renovated Global Headquarters in New York City

World's largest LEED Platinum renovation to date Will cut electric consumption by 50% and save more than 1 million gallons of water a year

NEW YORK – Jan. 18, 2012 – JPMorgan Chase announced today that it has achieved the highest possible rating, LEED® Platinum, from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the renovation of its global headquarters at 270 Park Avenue in Manhattan, making it the world's largest renovation project to achieve Platinum status.

In the United States, existing buildings contribute 50 to 80 percent of urban greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Building Owners and Managers Association. The renovation will allow the 50-story building to cut its electricity consumption in half compared to pre-renovation levels. In addition, the building will save more than 1 million gallons of water a year by installing new, highly efficient systems and an innovative draining and filtering system.

"This was the largest 'green' renovation of a headquarters building in the world, and we completed it while operating in the building," said Frank Bisignano, JPMorgan Chase's Chief Administrative Officer and CEO of Mortgage Banking. "We are extremely proud of the improvements made at 270 Park, which will substantially cut consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving LEED Platinum status is not just a source of pride, it is very sound business."

Earning the Platinum rating meant upgrading and modernizing every system and feature in the 50-year-old building – from heating, air conditioning and lighting, to insulation, plumbing fixtures, flooring and outside views – all while the building remained occupied. To minimize disruptions, an average of 400 construction workers a day completed the renovation in phases, working on up to 10 floors at a time. "With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC's vision of a sustainable built environment for everyone within a generation," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "The work of innovative, forward-thinking building projects such the Park Avenue headquarters of JPMorgan Chase is a fundamental driving force in the green building movement." LEED Platinum certification of JPMorgan Chase's global headquarters was based on a number of green design and construction features, including:

• New systems to improve energy efficiency, including: heating and air conditioning equipment; lighting with occupancy sensors and daylight dimming controls; Energy Star kitchen appliances, computers and monitors; new building insulation and window tint to reduce glare, heat gain and air conditioning load.
   
• A 54,000 gallon tank in the cellar that collects rain water from drains on the roof and plaza, which is stored and filtered, and then used in landscaping and to flush toilets in the lower part of the building – saving more than 1 million gallons of water a year. Combined with other plumbing upgrades the building will use half as much water as pre-renovation.

• Nearly 16,500 square feet of new landscaping, including green roofs, that feature low-maintenance plants to help lower building temperatures in the summer while reducing stress on the city's sewer system on rainy days. Soil in the planters acts as a filter to remove pollutants from rainwater. In addition, an herb garden was planted on the 11th floor roof to provide fresh herbs and vegetables for client dining.

• Reusing over 99 percent of the original building and recycling more than 85 percent of construction waste including 990,000 square feet of carpeting. Over 12,000 tons of construction waste was diverted from landfills.

• New floor designs and layout to give 85 percent of employees natural daylight at their desks, with more than 92 percent having exterior views.

• 266 bicycle racks to encourage employee well being and greener commutes.

About JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.2 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management and private equity. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 79 local affiliates, nearly 16,000 member organizations, and more than 174,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. GDP from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students. Visit usgbc.org to learn more.

LEED

The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 44,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED rating systems, comprising over 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 120 countries.In addition, nearly 15,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with more than 65,000 more homes registered. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.
For more information, visit www.usgbc.org