Greenwash of the Week: Chevron's Solar Project Bulls#%t

[Liamwaffles]

:/ i wanted a good idea for my homework project on the solar system

[Liamwaffles]

@Liamwaffles xD i forgot... good message

[revbookburn]

Fantastic message and totally watchable delivery. Chevron is one of the ugliest examples of destructive greed. Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta

[jonstarbuck]

Fantastic :-)

[mark4edwards]

Yes, Chevron has done a lot to damage the environment and held up environmental progress. A good portion of their advertising is greenwashing. Do your part to keep the oil industry in check.

[LauraGrainger]

Rock on Nick & Brianna!!!

[YouMustBeKidding666]

Mark4Edwards is such an obvious oil & Chevron troll, it's almost humorous.

Perhaps next week's Greenwash should be on Mark4Edwards?

[njmagel]

Hi mark, disingenuous advertising is exactly what Chevron invests in. Take a look at their Youtube channel (where i just came from) it full of wonderful "human energy" commercials, asking individuals to take action to reduce energy consumption. Good cause, no doubt. The problem i have is that their "human energy" push is attempting to hide the "human cost" of Chevron's energy production.

[njmagel]

Whether it be supporting a brutal military to protect their extraction facilities in Nigeria, setting record air pollution marks in Richmond and El Sugundo CA, leaving millions in toxic pollution in the Ecuadorian Amazon, spilling 18k gallons in Louisiana, destroying wildlife habitat in Australia, or derailing any real climate bill in DC. Chevron using these "drop in the bucket" (as you put it) projects as public and political cover.

[njmagel]

Chevron as outdone themselves, polluting communities and trying to hide behind their deep PR and political pockets

[mark4edwards]

rebelliouspixels Did you seriously believe that Chevron would become a renewable energy company? Read their financial statements. Of course they are mainly an oil company. While it may advertise its renewable energy projects. That does not make the renewable projects themselves greenwashing. Greenwashing lies in disingenuous advertising.

What's 2% of a few billion? It is enough money to be significant for the nascent modern renewable energy industry.

[mark4edwards]

You made some good points but also had some flaws in your analysis which would change your conclusion that this solar installation is greenwash.

Yes, renewable energy expenditures are a small percentage of Chevrons overall expenditures. Its good to keep advertisements in check with reality. However, the press releases on this solar installation seem to be matter of fact and dont make claims that Chevron is predominantly a renewable energy company.

[mark4edwards]

Yes, heavy oils are generally more carbon-intensive to produce than light oils. You can assume that the oil facility being powered by the solar panels will continue to operate REGARDLESS of the solar installation. The press releases indicate that this project is net-metered. The oil facility using the solar energy was already buying electricity from the grid. Therefore, the solar power offsets the power from the grid. This means that this project is resulting in a reduction of CO2 emissions

[mark4edwards]

Yes, oil, coal, etc. use should be reduced to reduce climate change. Yes, you should keep keep Chevron, Californias largest greenhouse house gas emitter, in check. There are plenty of things to criticize about Chevron and plenty of things within the company that should be reformed.

[mark4edwards]

Even though this project is a drop in the bucket compared to Chevrons oil operations, the project helps the solar industry grow by testing new solar technologies in a real world environment. This is a boon for solar startups trying to survive in the ultra-competitive PV manufacturing industry.

[mark4edwards]

Chevron is not a solar manufacturer but they are one of the largest solar installers in California so it makes sense that they are testing out new solar technologies. I imagine that manufacturing new solar technology is a lot more difficult that being a youtube commentator. You should be careful to separate the wheat from the chaff do your part to reform the dirty parts of Chevrons business but be careful not to criticize things that help the solar industry.

[rebelliouspixels]

@mark4edwards - The problem is that since the mid 1970s Chevron has been presenting itself as a company that heavily invests in & is moving to renewable energy. Now 35 years later they are still only "testing" small solar projects. And they are still only investing less than 2% into alternatives. It seem clear that Chevron is really interested in profitable oil and only uses solar and other alternative projects for its PR and self-image. Thats the greenwash the show is talking about.

[aliceww4]

loving it. loving you. loving the green top. not so sure about big oil.

[rvanwaarden]

great stuff

[anastasisg1980]

perfection! 'did he just say tar sands??' lol

[strophy]

Quality show! Love the green teeth and stuff!

[RenewableEnergyNews]

TWO THUMBS UP! Don't you just hate big oil?

[robinemmarose]

YESSSSSS so glad Greenwash of the Week is back!!! I missed you!! (And I miss Robin and Bria, but I like the new professional looking set and I'm sure I'll come to love the new anchors in time ;))

[RineCalifornia]

Love it! Brianna is such an amazing anchor... and I used to have that iguana as a kid... can't wait to see more!

[ShadiaFayneWood]

I loved it....i'm excited to see more!