Reducing the Carbon Footprint at an Electric Utility Company

The purpose of this thesis is the development of options for the reduction of the carbon footprint at an electric utility company. A case study details a systematic approach to reduce corporate greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade. The study focuses on providing three principle outputs: 1) process maps whereby the company may systematically identify its current carbon footprint, 2) scenario analyses to project its future carbon emissions over a ten year period and, 3) recommended actions to reduce GHG emissions over the next decade. A number of recommendations for emission reductions are made. The findings suggest that the degree to which an organization addresses its GHG emissions is substantially influenced by organization-specific social, regulatory, technological and economic forces. The case study reveals that by perceiving corporate carbon management as a periphery objective, organizations limit their ability to reduce GHG emissions and to improve their corporate performance.