As the world becomes increasingly socially responsible, looking at everything from new sources of energy to new methods of recycling, corporations and private investors alike look for ways to feel socially responsible with their assets as well.
For example, in May UPS (UPS) announced an agreement with Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE) to purchase 170 million gallon equivalents of renewable natural gas through 2026. This is the largest commitment for use of RNG to date by any company in the United States, with a range of 22.5 – 25 million gallon equivalents per year. RNG is a key part of UPS’s strategy to increase alternative fuel consumption to be 40% of total ground fuel purchases by 2025, supporting the logistics leader’s goals to reduce the absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of its ground fleet 12% by 2025.
“The world has a trash problem. And the world has an emissions problem. Renewable natural gas, produced naturally from bio sources such as landfills and dairy farms, not only turns trash to gas, but it turns it into clean gas,” said Mike Casteel, UPS director of fleet procurement. “Since RNG is supported by existing national infrastructure used to transport natural gas, it’s a winning solution that will help UPS to reach our ambitious sustainability goals. At the same time, we hope our unprecedented seven-year commitment serves as a catalyst for wider adoption of RNG by other companies.”
With so much social consciousness abounding, a clean energy ETF can be a smart investment choice. These ETFs invest in solar power, wind power, and natural gas, among other industries, allocating to stocks like NextEra Energy (NEE), TerraForm Power (TERP), FirstSolar (FSLR), Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP), and even Tesla (TSLA).
Invesco Solar ETF (TAN): This ETF tracks the MAC Global Solar Energy Index, which consists of about 25 solar energy stocks, including top holdings First Solar Inc (FSLR), SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG), and Canadian Solar, Inc (CSIQ). The expense ratio for TAN is 0.70%.
iShares Global Clean Energy (ICLN): This ETF tracks the S&P Global Clean Energy Index, which is composed of 30 clean and renewable energy stocks from all around the world. Top holdings include Companhia Energetica Minas Gerais (CIG), Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE), and Vestas Wind Systems (VWS). The expense ratio for ICLN is 0.47%.