Mar 29 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Tom Henry The Blade, Toledo, Ohio

One of America's largest Presbyterian groups is doing what a lot of environmentalists are trying to do: hold FirstEnergy Corp. accountable for its efforts to combat global warming.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) said yesterday that, as a FirstEnergy minority shareholder, it has persuaded the utility to disclose its plans for achieving further reductions in greenhouse gases from its coal-fired power plants.

The Akron utility, one of the nation's largest, owns the coal-fired Bay Shore power plant in Oregon and several others. It also owns the Davis-Besse nuclear plant in Ottawa County, though that facility likely will not figure into the report. Off-site fabrication of nuclear fuel and other products within a nuclear plant generate greenhouse gases, but the plants themselves are not emitters.

The Presbyterian group has a membership of 2.3 million people in more than 10,000 congregations, including 14,000 ministers.

"We are very pleased that FirstEnergy recognizes the potential for reducing its carbon footprint by lowering greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency and demand-side management.

"This report will help stockholders assess the company's efforts to position itself for the future," said the Rev. Bill Somplatsky-Jarman of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

A group spokesman, Mindy

Marchal, said Presbyterians view global warming as an issue of environmental justice "to protect the world God gave us and to be good stewards."

"We see this as a social justice ministry. We're very dedicated to the environment and the well-being of the environment to nurture and protect all God's children," she said.

The request was made through a shareholder resolution with help from Ceres, a national network of investors, environmental organizations, and public interest groups.

FirstEnergy officials agreed to document their climate-change work rather than send the resolution through to its board of directors for a vote.

Utility spokesman Ellen Raines said the two sides agreed on Dec. 31 as the deadline for the study's release.

"We've worked to be environmentally responsible in all of our activities," she said.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) had asked for the report by Sept. 1.

Ms. Raines said it agreed to the later date after hearing FirstEnergy's concerns about Gov. Ted Strickland's energy plan, which calls for more renewable energy and fewer greenhouse gases.

The plan is "on the front burner legislatively" with the Ohio Senate, she said.

FirstEnergy is one of several utilities Ceres has been negotiating with in conjunction with or on behalf of other groups.

Ceres claims power generating is responsible for 40 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

A record 54 global-warming shareholder resolutions were filed with U.S. companies this year, nearly double the 2006 figure.

Utilities, oil and coal producers, airlines, and home builders were targeted, according to Ceres.

Contact Tom Henry at: thenry@theblade.com or 419-724-6079.