Ardagh Group has added its name to the growing list of American businesses calling on the federal government to enact national policy solutions that will accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon power system.

This joint policy statement, organised by Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA) Energy Buyers Alliance, emphasises the need for ambitious policies that modernise the power grid and ensure it is resilient, affordable, customer focused, and carbon-free.

“Clean energy presents an unprecedented opportunity to recover after the triple whammy of 2020: pandemic-induced recession, climate calamities, and racial reckoning,” said Miranda Ballentine, CEO of the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA), a member-based organisation that represents and advocates on behalf of many of America’s largest energy buyers.

“Policies like those outlined today can revitalise the economy, grow high-wage jobs and create the electricity system of the future. As the newly inaugurated Biden Administration looks to take immediate steps to rebuild the economy and tackle the climate crisis, these iconic businesses stand ready to work together to make a zero-carbon power vision a reality.”

The Energy Buyer Federal Clean Energy Policy statement, organised by the REBA, emphasises the need for ambitious national policies that modernise the power grid and ensure it is resilient, affordable, customer-focused, and most importantly, carbon-free.

These companies represent more than $5.8 trillion in revenue and 13.5+ million employees from across diverse sectors of the U.S. economy. American businesses have signed nearly 30 GW of new, large-scale renewable energy contracts since 2014. In 2019, announced deals, totaling 9.4 GW, were the equivalent of 80 percent of total renewable energy capacity installed in the U.S., with soon-to-be-announced 2020 year-end numbers showcasing growth in the market despite challenges felt across the industry due to the pandemic.

More than 250 global businesses have committed to using 100 percent renewable energy, and Fortune 1000 companies may represent as much as 85 GW of renewable energy demand through 2030. 

Already clean energy and climate action champions, these diverse businesses have taken a step past their peers to advocate for key policy strategies that accelerate energy buyer procurement goals and create a roadmap for the Biden Administration to actualise its vision of a zero-carbon energy future, including: 

1. Leverage organised wholesale electricity markets for grid decarbonisation by improving existing wholesale markets and expanding wholesale markets to achieve least-cost, efficient clean energy deployment.
2. Decarbonise the grid for all through swift federal government action to harmonise and update the current patchwork of clean energy policies. 
3. Support innovation to advance a resilient, affordable, clean energy system by substantially increasing federal funding for clean energy technology research, development and demonstration. 

“It’s imperative for McDonald’s to use its scale to help democratise clean energy for all. Our work must be meaningful and impactful as we continue making progress toward our goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Emma Cox, Global Renewable Energy Lead at McDonald’s and REBA Board member. “This group of market leaders has the opportunity to advocate for key policies that will transform the future of energy markets for generations to come.”