CMP parent firm signs climate change pledge

WASHINGTON - Iberdrola Renewables President and CEO Frank Burkhartsmeyer, representing the Iberdrola USA companies, including Central Maine Power, joined other senior executives of America's largest companies Monday at the White House to sign the American Business Act on Climate Pledge. The pledge is a component of President Barack Obama's Climate Action Plan.

"Iberdrola is the world's leading wind energy producer, and our U.S. wind fleet is the second largest in the country," said Bob Kump, chief corporate officer of Iberdrola USA. "The Iberdrola companies have committed to cutting our global CO₂ emissions intensity by 50 percent by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality in our worldwide operations by 2050. As a leader in clean energy production and industry innovation, we welcome these initiatives to promote a cleaner energy future."

By signing the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, Iberdrola USA and the others are:

• Supporting the Paris Climate Summit for a world-wide commitment toward reducing global carbon pollution. (Iberdrola USA's parent company, Iberdrola, and its chairman, Ignacio Galán, already signed an open letter to world leaders urging them to reach an ambitious agreement at the Paris Climate Summit.

In May 2015, Iberdrola USA pledged support to the Partnership for Energy Climate Resilience. In that agreement, utilities are examining how to ensure the reliability of the electric grid during extreme weather events.

For more information on the American Business Act on Climate Pledge: http://cms.doe.gov/epsa/partnership-energy-sector-climate-resilience