GE's lack of “ecomagination–
You've probably seen the General Electric ads, either during the Super Bowl or one of your favorite prime time television shows. As public opinion and consumer consciousness become more alive to the environment, GE has tried to shape their image accordingly, claiming in vague terms that they plan to become more environmentally friendly over the next several years. From frolicking rain-soaked pachyderms to environment-friendly jet engines, the company claims to clean up its eco-act in every aspect of business.
Here's something that they won't tell you. While our minds have been distracted by their ads, they have been petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency to actually weaken new pollution standards that have been proposed for the locomotives. According to the Wall Street Journal:
The rules, which could take effect between 2011 and 2017, are designed to cut smog and soot levels and would replace standards adopted in 1997. Since the rules would apply to new locomotives and could require changes on older ones, they would have a big effect on GE, which dominates the nearly $2 billion-a-year North American locomotive market. While the nation’s other locomotive maker and diesel-engine makers say they are prepared to meet the proposed new standard, GE argues it is “unlikely to be achieved” and has proposed a weaker one.
The legislation would be an enormous step in curbing carbon emissions from one of the most overlooked sources of automotive pollution on the planet. By the EPA's estimates:
Each locomotive produces as much pollution over its lifetime as 500 heavy-duty diesel trucks.
Yes, GE has taken some steps toward becoming more eco-friendly, but to claim to have such high environmental standards while petitioning the EPA to lower theirs is a bit hypocritical. It's important to see through the rhetoric of these ads – ˜cause if you can't, it's harder to hold these “big mama– companies to their promises. And that's how you make progress.
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