Coho, an ERM Group company

The road to net zero carbon emissions is not paved with small, incremental changes. It is a series of bold, transformational steps—switching to clean energy, electrifying vehicle fleets, reimagining building design, overhauling water use, and much more. What gives business leaders the confidence to act so boldly? Vision and skill. That’s why Coho’s advisors bring passion and excellence to every project. Our rigorous, multi-disciplinary approach has been proven to move clients past obstacles, from ambition to action. Learn how Coho’s advisors can help you execute transformational change: https://lnkd.in/ewBQbe9W

Large companies operating in the US can switch to renewable energy in several ways. The best way(s) will depend on a company's unique goals and circumstances. Those options include: ⚡Power purchase agreements (PPAs) ⚡Utility green tariff programs ⚡Onsite solar ⚡Community solar ⚡Structured retail ⚡Renewable energy certificates (RECs) Coho's advisors Svena Bhasin and John Izevbigie have authored this helpful guide to explain the pros and cons of each option. Often, large organizations get the most out of their energy transition by combining solution types for a clean energy portfolio that meets the company's unique needs. Learn more here: https://hubs.li/Q02Bdd1d0

Despite the huge benefits of switching to clean energy, some companies fail to cross the finish line of a large-scale clean energy procurement. A typical reason: risk. Sometimes, clean energy deals can be costlier than expected. Sometimes, issues like permit delays or supply chain disruptions can prevent a clean energy project from reaching commercial operations. These financial and development risks can jeopardize sign-off from leadership and spoil even the best renewable energy procurement plans. Our advisors have helped many types of organizations take basic steps to mitigate these risks: ✔️Know all your options ✔️Perform project and developer due diligence ✔️Negotiate for terms that suit your risk appetite If you are exploring a power purchase agreement (PPA) or other type of major renewable energy procurement, read this explainer by Gavin Ahern, VP of Client Solutions, for detailed advice on how to manage the risk. https://hubs.li/Q02Bddf40

Companies in the U.S. have no time to waste in switching to clean energy if they plan to follow through on their climate commitments. How best to move forward, and fast? Coho's advisors have navigated the U.S. market for 14 years, and in that time we have seen what makes a commercial scale clean energy transaction happen. Follow these steps to create an energy transition plan that sustainability AND finance will love. ❤️ ✔️KNOW YOUR OPTIONS: Clean energy can be purchased at commercial scale in a variety of ways, including virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs), structured retail, green tariffs, onsite solar, and more. You should understand the trade-offs of these solutions to assemble a renewable energy portfolio with the greatest benefit to your business. ✔️ALIGN INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS: Effective change management is the lynchpin of your energy transition, since it requires many different internal decision makers to act. Failure to properly engage those stakeholders and win buy-in will guarantee that clean energy transactions stall out. ✔️MANAGE RISKS: Switching to renewable energy often entails taking on some degree of financial risk, but that risk can be minimized with the right procurement and contracting approach. Work with an experienced advisor who knows the ropes. ✔️LOOP IN RETAIL: If your company buys retail energy, consider how to optimize those purchases in support of your clean energy agenda. This can mean buying renewable energy through your retail contracts or even just comparison shopping for better rates to free up funds for clean energy and decarbonization investments. ✔️EXPLORE TAX CREDIT TRANSFERS: Take advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act's transferability clause to reduce your company's tax burden while helping to bring more renewable energy onto America's electric grid. Taking these steps can dramatically improve your odds of success when buying commercial scale clean energy in the U.S. market. Find in-depth resources on all these topics at https://hubs.li/Q02yjkP00 Want to discuss these tactics in person at Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) this week? Coho Senior Engagement Manager Svena Bhasin is on the scene. #cleanenergy #renewables #climate #CEBAconnect #CONNECTatSUMMIT

Not only is this great #impactstorytelling (well done McDonald's Comms team 👏🏼) but it’s also a project that is near and dear to my heart, having conceptualized and executed this corporate/ supplier decarbonization partnership when I led Global RE at McDonalds a few years ago… Congrats to the team who co-led this impactful initiative with me (Michael Meyer Walid Robert Norris Steve DePalo Coho, an ERM Group company William Elmore to name a few)! 🌎

From air drying your laundry to leading bold sustainability efforts for a fortune 500 company, change comes from changing our minds about how we do things, at every level. “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking,” Albert Einstein wrote. Because behaving differently starts with a decision to behave differently, it’s helpful to see that others have done just that. Governments, big corporations, small businesses, communities, individuals – any and all change in our actions begins with a decision to begin. On Earth Day, in honor of Earth Month and the ongoing myriad ways so many have decided to address their environmental impact head-on, Coho’s internal Carbon Elimination Team is happy to highlight several examples of different levels and types of successful actions to inspire your own. (One example: Here at Coho, we’ve gamified our Earth Month efforts, assembling into teams named such things as The Compost Commandos, The Plastic Patrol and Emission Impossible, to try and out-Earth each other with volunteerism, donations, community events, and more.) Read our latest blog to see how bold climate action can play out on big, medium, and little scales, and why it all matters: https://hubs.li/Q02tD3ly0 #earthday #earthday2024 #sustainability #climate #cleanenergy #waterresiliency

Scope 3 emissions (otherwise known as value chain emissions) can account for as much as 90% of a corporation's carbon footprint. Tackling scope 3 is a huge task that is only possible if corporates forge meaningful partnerships with their suppliers. Where to start? Read our latest post by William Elmore and Allison South to understand how companies can work with their suppliers to drive meaningful action: https://hubs.li/Q02rSjpn0 #scope3 #climate

Businesses: Did you know your suppliers could account for most of the emissions you’re trying to mitigate? Suppliers: Do you know what your clients’ emissions requirements are or how to meet them? It’s time to talk scope 3 and begin working together. The upcoming April Advisor newsletter will help you understand how suppliers and corporate clients can support each other and strengthen their combined ability to reach challenging scope 3 goals. Subscribe at https://lnkd.in/gcHu8Pvn

Do renewable energy markets seem perplexing today? You’re not imagining it. Still, it’s not time to drop out of the game – it’s time to refresh your understanding of the basics so you can be nimble and poised to make the most of opportunities that arise. Relearn the underlying concepts and expectations of a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement or VPPA – a key tool for many companies looking to make strides towards businesses climate goals. It's all here in this post by Coho Senior Engagement Manager Svena Bhasin. https://hubs.li/Q02r2QxB0

Let’s face it, sustainability leaders: Finding and procuring solutions in today’s renewable energy market is not for the faint of heart. 💚 Still, keeping your organization on the renewable energy sidelines definitely won’t get you where you want to go. To make the most of opportunities that do arise in difficult markets, you have to be informed and ready. Coho partners Gavin Ahern and Terence de Pentheny O'Kelly de Pentheny O’Kelly review how you can prepare the ground for a smooth and successful procurement by developing a strategy, fostering tight collaboration and assembling the right internal team. https://hubs.li/Q02qKdV90