ChrisGoFixIt!

Chris Kerr Go Fix It!  =A Comparison of Local Gas Stations: Use Your Consumer Power!= Today we face new challenges never before seen by previous generations. With global warming becoming more and more of a reality, toxins swimming in our drinking water and lower educational scores on top of a poor economy, our nation must make massive changes to a variety of infrastructures if we ever hope to become a sustainable society. When one looks at these problems, it is easy for one to throw their hands up and say that things are hopeless. With corporations owning our every move in an almost fascist manor, it can feel unable to help in bringing about a change for a more sustainable future. This notion, however, is incorrect, as corporations need something from us in order to survive; they need our cash. The choice to give it to them remains up to us, and with our buying power we can have some sway over which companies survive and which don’t. One issue which is easily left in the “there’s nothing I can do about it” category that of oil and the corporations that control it. Although it might seem like an issue in which the consumer can have little involvement, education about what specific oil companies are doing can help us make decisions about which practices to support and which to shun with our cash.

In the city of Troy, there are a few local gas stations. A few of the more prominent ones are the Hess station on Hossick and 15th, the Exxon Mobile station up Hoosick near Wallmart, the Valero right nearby, and the smaller Sunoco on Congress. Although all of these stations are capable of filling your tank, learning a little more about these companies and their activities regarding environmental and social responsibility can help one make decisions about which practices they support and which they don’t. Here’s a comparison of these companies.


 * Hess**

Hess has annual earnings of about $32 billion a year. Their awards include: Business Ethics top 100 Ethical Companies, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and a Greenopia 4th place award. They have been ranked 37th best in air pollution by Political Economy Research, have a CERES climate score of 35/100 and Responsible Shopper graded them a C-.

One thing this company does well is in its annual reporting; all environmental metrics are clearly tracked. They are much better at recycling than most of their opponents, and they have been doing research into alternative fuels including clean diesel and biofuels. Their emissions, when normalized, rank amongst the highest as well. Although they have been responsible for a few spills, including one in the Hudson in New York City during 1990, they have taken full responsibility and done a good job cleaning up after themselves. If they improved on their research into alternative energies, they could easily be a leader amongst petroleum companies. As it is, however, they rank rather high up against their competitors, even if they’re not at the top.


 * Valero**

Valero has annual earnings of about $95 billion a year. They have been awarded 9th place by Greenopia, the Sierra Club ranked them “Middle of the Barrel” and they have a CERES Climate Change score of 24/100.

Although they have complete environmental reporting and a great efficiency rating of greenhouse gas emissions (34 million tons per year) compared with the amount of oil they produce, that’s about all this company has to offer. The Center for Economic Priorities has noted that beyond the environmental reporting this company has straight up refused to give any other numbers regarding their activities. Lastly, they have done no research whatsoever regarding alternative energy or global warming, and have discussed no plans for doing so in the future. All of this leads to one conclusion: although not the worst, they are definitely at the bottom of the rankings amongst other oil companies and much work is needed before they can be looked upon with anything but skepticism.


 * Exxon Mobile**

Exxon Mobile is the most profitable company in the history of the world, with annual earnings of about $477 billion. Although they somehow managed to wind up ranking 2nd best air pollution by the Political Economy Research Institute, were on the Business Ethics Top 100 Ethical Companies in the last two years and have a CERES Climate Change Score of 35/100 (one of the best amongst its competitors), that’s where the good ends.

Exxon has wound up on the bottom of many more rankings than it’s seen itself on top of. Responsible Shopper given it a grade of D, and they have made the Multinational Monitor’s Ten Words Corporations List in 1989, 1990, 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2007 and been given 5th place in their list of 100 Corporate Criminals. The Center for Responsive Politics has shown that they have given over $11 million in campaign contributions, and the Center for Public Integrity has tracked over $139 million sent from Exxon to lobbyists annually. They also have an Ethisphere Earthscore of 4/20.

Another problem with Exxon is its poor efficiency; they generate a total of 141 million tons of greenhouse gas per year, which when compared to the amount of oil they drill is much higher than than its competitors. They have boycotted Greenpeace, Green America and Corporate Accountability International, and have been dodging the issue of global warming for as long as it has been around. The only good things which can be said for this company are that it has been looking into biofuel technology and is honest in its reporting. They are also on the bottom of the list in terms of number of spills, although their cleanup efforts have been completely inadequate.


 * Sunoco**

Sunoco has annual earnings of around $44 billion. Their awards include a Business Ethics Top 100 Companies Award for 2008, an FTS4 Good award in sustainability and a Center for Economic Priorities Award in 2000. CERES, with whom Sunoco has worked extensively, has given them a Climate Change Score of 39/100; the highest of any oil company. Greenopia ranked them the top environmentally friendly and socially responsible oil company for 2009, and the Sierra Club ranked them “Top of the Barrel”. The only poor grade they have received is a C- by Responsible Shopper, which is tied for the highest with any other company in its field.

Out of all oil companies, Sunoco gives the most detailed environmental reporting; they also report every area in which they need improvement, unlike the competition. They have the most efficient use of water, and release the least amount of greenhouse gas per year; 14.1 million tons. Although they also release 7000 tons of hazardous waste, the fact that we even know that number speaks strongly to Sunoco’s attempt at integrity. They are the most proactive about climate change among all companies in their field, and have done extensive work on biofuel technology. Although they could expand into other fields of sustainable energy, they are the leading example of social responsibility and environmental awareness amongst the competition.

In a perfect world, our energy demands would be met by fully sustainable solutions. Unfortunately we are not there yet, and even the most environmentally conscious do spend time at the pump. When we are forced to make this choice, however, our consumer dollars can be used to help support better business practice. Even if this doesn’t change the world tomorrow, we can know that at least we supported those who were looking towards a greener future (even if they were kicking and screaming the whole way there). This is a way we here in Troy can make an impact, however so small, on the oil industry; shop at Sunoco and boycott Exxon Mobile! =Works Cited= "Greenopia List of Oil Companies." __Greenopia.com.__ 29 11 2010 . Howard, Brian Clark. "BP as Greenest Oil Company? FAIL." __thedailygreen.com.__ 29 11 2010 . "Oil Company Reporting on Alternative Energy Diversification." __kpmg.com.__ 29 11 2010 . "the better world handbook." __betterworldhandbok.com.__ 29 11 2010 .