Big upgrades earn Bentall Centre a CaGBC award

BIZ  Real Estate  •  Office, Retail  •  Metro Vancouver, British Columbia

No longer is Vancouver’s multi-tower downtown Bentall Centre your “grandpa’s office.” Owners Hudson Pacific Properties and Blackstone Property Partners have made extensive upgrades and that led to the complex winning the Canada Green Building Council’s 2022 award for existing building operations.

Canadian Solar revenue, profit shines bright in Q2 2022

BIZ  Finance  •  Clean Energy  •  Ontario

Canadian Solar reported “significant” growth driven by shipments of solar modules and project sales in Q2 2022, as its revenue and gross margin beat expectations.

Never Collide bird-safe buildings take off in Toronto

BIZ  Real Estate, ESG  •  Infrastructure  •  National, Toronto / GTA

Pearl Shore was leaving the subway near Finch Ave. and Yonge St. in Toronto when she noticed two dead crown kinglet birds at the foot of a nearby high-rise. Now, she heads up the volunteer organization Never Collide.

The ESG Report › ESG Report: Minto, Gildan, Cushman & Wakefield

Tyler Choi: Business editor

Vancity sees opportunity in EV project financing

Transportation  •  Electric Autonomy  •  Sustainable Biz Canada

After last month’s $3.2-million EV fleet project financing deal with Vancouver-based 7 Generation Capital, Vancity Community Investment Bank says it is looking for more opportunities to help fund transportation’s transition to net-zero.

The automotive industry may have a labeling problem

Transportation  •  Green Biz

The difference between electric vehicles (EVs) and zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) are critical, but governments, organizations, press releases and media coverage use EV and ZEV interchangeably, which can potentially confuse the general public.

Stellantis plans profitable goodbye for muscle cars

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail  •  Sustainable Biz Canada  •  Sustainable Biz Canada

Stellantis NV’s Dodge brand plans to squeeze maximum profit from the farewell party for its petrol-burning Challenger and Charger muscle cars, which are scheduled to go out of production at the end of next year.

Taiga continues its development of electric vehicles

Real Estate  •  Les Affaires  •  Sustainable Biz Canada

Quebec-based snowmobile and watercraft manufacturer Taiga Motors posted a net loss of $11.1 million in the second quarter, compared to $4.5 million in the same quarter last year, as the company continues to develop electric vehicles.

L.A. roads are being covered with solar-reflective paint

Real Estate  •  Fast Company

To combat the so-called urban heat island effect, some cities have been retrofitting public buildings into climate shelters, while others have been planting thousands of trees. One Los Angeles neighborhood is turning 1 million square feet of road to solar-reflective paint.

U.S. climate bill gives carbon removal a big boost

Carbon  •  Atlantic Council

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 will soon be law, and it is a massive step for US climate ambitions, bringing $369 billion for climate solutions. In particular, carbon removal will get a big lift.

U.S. regulations emphasize ESG on compensation

ESG  •  Green Biz

Recently proposed regulations from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Labor highlight the potential impact of ESG factors on corporate financial performance.

EU greenhouse gas emissions on the rise

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

Greenhouse gas emissions across the European Union rose in the first quarter from a year earlier, but remained just below pre-pandemic levels, the bloc’s statistics office said on Tuesday.

BlackRock makes $700M investment in battery storage

Energy  •  CNBC

A fund under the management of BlackRock Real Assets is set to acquire Akaysha Energy, an Australian firm that develops battery storage and renewable energy projects, for $700 million.

Carbon Streaming closes $25.8M carbon credit stream

Carbon  •  Deep Dive  •  Sustainable Biz Canada

Toronto-based Carbon Streaming has closed on its latest $25.8 million carbon credit stream, which will see it reduce 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent over 15 years within Africa with support for safe water solutions and fuel efficient cookstoves.

Nova Scotia Power to shut down 1 coal generator

Energy  •  CBC

Nova Scotia Power will begin closing one of their coal units at the Lingan generating station in October — eight months after their original deadline of Jan. 1 — as the so-called “Nova Scotia Block” of hydroelectricity from Muskrat Falls comes online.

India may delay coal plant closures

Real Estate  •  Bloomberg

India’s government is studying a slower retirement of aging coal-fired power plants as it also adds newer sites, a move that would keep fossil fuel capacity higher for years and potentially stall efforts to hit climate goals.

Boston Mayor looks to set clean building standards

Real Estate  •  Bisnow

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu plans to file a home rule petition that will allow the city to establish fossil fuel-free building standards. Wu’s submission takes advantage of a state law Gov. Charlie Baker signed last week, An Act Driving Clean Energy And Offshore Winds.

NYC real estate races to curb carbon emissions

Real Estate  •  The Hill

New York developers are scrambling to curb big-building carbon emissions, as a deadline to clean up the city’s towering real estate gradually approaches amid escalating temperatures, extreme weather conditions and rising seas.

How far U.S. trails others in CRE climate policy

Real Estate  •  Bisnow

A new report warns that the United States has not only lagged behind Europe in developing green regulations, but that investors in U.S. commercial real estate haven’t adequately priced in the risk of incoming standards in their underwriting.

U.S. judge reinstates federal oil, gas leasing pause

Real Estate  •  Globe and Mail

A U.S. circuit judge on Wednesday reinstated the Biden administration’s pause on new oil and gas leasing on federal land and waters, a key piece of the president’s climate change strategy.