Partners

The Climate Midwest partnership includes companies from various economic sectors, providing diversity of experience and perspective. Current partners are:

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is one of the world's largest processors of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa. ADM is a leading manufacturer of biodiesel, ethanol, soybean oil and meal, corn sweeteners, flour and other value-added food and feed ingredients. In 2005, the company was awarded two EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Awards for environmentally-friendly technological innovation. ADM also participates in the EPA's SmartWay Program and is a founding partner of EPA's Combined Heat and Power Partnership. The company is headquartered in Decatur, Illinois.

Baker & McKenzie is a global law firm, providing legal advice and services to organizations worldwide. The firm's staff has expertise in numerous legal fields, including the environment. For over 10 years, Baker & McKenzie has practiced climate change law and in 2006 was named "Best Law Firm for EU Emissions Trading" and "Best Law Firm for Kyoto Project Credits" by Environmental Finance magazine. The firm is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Baxter International is a global medical products and services company. Baxter is involved in a number of sustainable development and climate initiatives, including a strong conservation program, the purchase of renewable energy and the accounting of company GHG emissions, to help them reach their 2010 energy efficiency and emission reduction targets. Baxter is also a founding member of the Chicago Climate Exchange.

Caterpillar is a leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and a wide and growing offering of related services. The company is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

Headquartered in Elk River, Minnesota, Great River Energy supplies electricity to 28 customer-owned electric co-ops across Minnesota and part of Wisconsin. Great River Energy has established a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to below 2000 levels by 2020. This is an expected 20 percent reduction from historical emissions. To accomplish its goal, the organization is focused on a number of solutions that support a sustainable environment, including energy conservation, alternative energy sources, carbon capture and storage/sequestration research, and other initiatives.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Johnson Controls, Inc. is a global manufacturer of innovative automotive interiors and batteries for automobiles and hybrid electric vehicles, and products and services that optimize energy use and improve comfort in residential, commercial, institutional and industrial buildings. The company is committed to an 18 percent reduction in GHG emissions nationwide by 2012, using a 2002 baseline. Johnson Controls, Inc. publicly reports their annual GHG emissions as well as other environmental performance indicators, and has developed an innovative energy and emissions database management software that greatly simplifies the process and accuracy of GHG emissions inventories, so they can be actively managed.

Kimberly-Clark (K-C) is a global health and hygiene company. The company's brands are sold in more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with operations in Neenah, Wisconsin, Kimberly-Clark has set internal Environmental Vision Standards, including energy efficiency improvements, since 1995. Kimberly-Clark is a member of the EPA Climate Leaders and SmartWay Transportation Partnerships, and most recently it has joined EPA's Energy Star Program. Climate Change information and progress are also publicly reported each year in the Company's Sustainability Report and in response to the annual Carbon Disclosure Project Questionnaire.

Headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, OfficeMax provides office supplies and paper, technology products and solutions, and furniture to large, medium and small businesses and consumers. OfficeMax promotes sustainability and conservation through the company's environmental and paper procurement policies and was the first company to provide nationally distributed 100 percent post-consumer copier paper (developed by OfficeMax) and color copier paper manufactured by wind power.

Stora Enso is a global integrated paper, packaging and forest products company. In North America, Stora Enso is a leading producer of coated and supercalendered papers, and a premier producer of specialty papers. In 2006, Stora Enso was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index STOXX for the sixth year in a row. Stora Enso is also an active founding member of the Chicago Climate Exchange, a member of the EPA Climate Leaders program, a participant in the DOE Climate VISION initiative, and an active member of the Global Roundtable on Climate Change. Stora Enso issues a Sustainability Report as well as a North America Sustainability Report.

United Airlines operates more than 3,600 flights a day to more than 210 destinations. With key global air rights in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and Latin America, United is one of the largest international carriers based in the United States. United is also a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides connections to 855 destinations in 155 countries worldwide. News releases and other information about United can be found at the company's Web site. United is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Xcel Energy is a leading electric and natural gas utility and the number one provider of wind energy. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Xcel Energy operates in 10 western and Midwestern states serving 3.3 million electricity customers and 1.8 million natural gas customers. One of the only utilities listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, Xcel Energy's "Triple Bottom Line" report is available on the company's website.

World Resources Institute (WRI) is an environmental research and policy organization that creates solutions to protect the planet and improve people's lives. The Institute participates in the Climate Midwest project through its Climate and Energy Program (CEP). CEP works to fulfill WRI's goal of protecting the global climate system from further harm due to emissions of greenhouse gases and to help humanity and the natural world adapt to unavoidable climate change. CEP includes the Green Power Market Development Group, the Climate Northeast project and the GHG Protocol Initiative.

WRI's role in the Climate Midwest project is:

• Provide guidance on how to develop a GHG emissions inventory that can be used as a tool to measure, manage and reduce GHG emissions
• Help to find opportunities for cost-effective clean energy projects
• Facilitate discussions on emerging climate change policies and their implications for business, as well the potential for emissions trading markets
• Work with the group to understand and articulate the business case for corporate GHG programs
• General stewardship and administration of the project

WRI has independent funding for its work. The Institute accepts small donations from corporate partners which are used for earmarked expenses under the project. Companies may be Corporate Sponsors to the Institute, providing general contributions.

Special thanks are extended to our funders: Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, Energy Foundation, Robertson Foundation, and UK Global Opportunities Fund.