LEADERSHIP
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Wells Fargo has teamed up with NREL ( National Renewable Energy Laboratory ) to form the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator ( IN2 ), an incubator for clean tech startups . We caught up with Ramsay Huntley , VP , Clean Technology and Innovation at Wells Fargo , and Trish Cozart , IN2 Program Manager at NREL , to find out how they offer startups much more than just funding .
Wells Fargo , a long-standing US financial insti- tution with $ 1.9trn in assets with 262,000 staff across 37 countries and territories , has long been committed to sustainability . Its own 2020 goals range from philanthropy to sustainable financing and promoting a recognition that climate change must be addressed . “ Right now , we ’ ve exceeded our own carbon reduction goals ,” explains Ramsay Huntley , citing the firm ’ s 45 % reduction achieved more than two years ahead of schedule . “ We ’ re now evaluating what the next steps are .”
Those next steps include broadening the bank ’ s sector-wide approach , following a commitment in April to provide $ 200bn in financing to sustainable businesses and projects by 2030 – with 50 % focused on clean technology and renewable energy transactions to support the transition to a low carbon economy , as well as investment in agriculture and waste management . “ We see that there are a variety of ways to work in this space . You can support existing businesses – our $ 200bn
NOVEMBER 2018