05675
Dec. 13, 2005

Energy firm says PC(USA) committee
prompted hard look at pollution issues

by Toya Richards Hill

LOUISVILLE — A large U.S. energy company says its recent self-examination on air pollution and mitigation issues was prompted in part by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) Committee.

        FirstEnergy Corp., of Akron, OH, cited MRTI, the committee responsible for ensuring socially responsible investing by the PC(USA), as a catalyst for its newly released “Air Issues Report” to shareholders, which focuses on the company’s air emissions and its current and future environmental-protection efforts.

        The report, available online at www.firstenergycorp.com/environmental, was created after MRTI and the Marianist Province of the United States said they would file a shareholder resolution calling for such a document. The idea was dropped after FirstEnergy agreed to produce the report.

        “As one of the nation’s leading energy companies, we are committed to protecting the environment while meeting our customers’ needs for safe, reliable electricity,” Richard R. Grigg, FirstEnergy’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said in a news release.  “We are pleased to offer our shareholders and customers this review of our past environmental accomplishments and plans to make significant additional emission reductions.”