Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) received a surprisingly positive comment from Greenpeace International, an independent environmental organization after learning that former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator, Lisa Jackson has been appointed by the tech giant as senior vice president for environmental initiative.
Gary Cook’s Remarks For Apple
Greenpeace senior IT analyst, Gary Cook said Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) demonstrated a “bold move” in hiring Jackson. He said that the former EPA administrator is a “proven advocate” and stressed her reputation in the fight against toxic waste and toxic waste that causes global warming.
“Jackson can make Apple the top environmental leader in the tech sector by helping the company use its influence to push electric utilities and governments to provide the clean energy that both Apple and America need right now,” wrote Cook in a statement.
“I’m incredibly impressed with Apple’s commitment to the environment and I’m thrilled to be joining the team,” stated Jackson.
Jackson will be responsible in supervising the green energy initiatives of the iPhone maker such as its solar farm project for its iCloud data center. She will report directly to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO Tim Cook.
A related report from Marketplace.org cited a comment from another former EPA administrator William Reilly regarding Apple’s decision to hire Jackson. Reilly said that the iPhone maker is very conscious about its public reputation for hiring somebody like Jackson. He said, “She will add luster to the brand. There’s no question. And she also does know the game. She does know regulation and she does know policy.”
In April last year, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) received a low score from Greenpeace International citing its lack of transparency on power usage, greenhouse emission reporting, energy advocacy, information on management of toxic chemicals, and details on post-consumer recycled plastic use. The environmental organization also said Apple obtains most of its electricity for its data center in North Carolina from coal burning power plants.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) denied the allegations and argued that 60 percent of its energy consumption comes from renewable energy sources. The tech giant also emphasized its plan to build the largest non-utility solar farm in the United States to power its data center.
Greenpeace International upgraded the score of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) after the iPhone maker announced to make its iCloud service to use 100 percent of electricity from renewable sources, and double the capacity the solar power capacity attached to the North Carolina data center. In addition, the company also said it will make all its data center completely coal free by 2013.
