Building a Greener California

Last week Applied Materials and our CEO Mike Splinter were recognized by the California League of Conservation Voters for the Company’s work in Building a Greener California.  Applied Materials was honored along with Environmental Entrepreneurs or “E2,” a national coalition of business leaders advocating for sound environmental policy and Justice William Newsom (retired California appellate judge), a lifelong conservationist who has worked to preserve Lake Tahoe’s beauty as well as endangered species.

The League’s statement accompanying the award to Applied read: “A genuinely green Silicon Valley—and national powerhouse. For over forty years Applied Materials has made energy efficiency the core of their work as they transform our lives through bold technological advances. Their innovation in solar technology alone has been a vital force in our move away from fossil fuels.”

The theme sounded by CEO Mike Splinter in his acceptance speech was one echoed by all of the evening’s speakers, namely that the environment and economy can always be strengthened together, “it’s an AND equation rather than OR”.  In addition, the notions that California’s AB 32 (the Global Warming Solutions Act) should be suspended or that Federal climate legislation should be deferred are misguided and based upon a false dichotomy.  Mike noted that it is essential that we put a price on carbon soon in order to stimulate job growth AND to address the mounting crisis of climate change.

Just last week week we saw more impressive evidence of how sustainable business can help revitalize our economy - Toyota and Tesla Motors announced that they will be reusing a portion of the NUMMI factory in Fremont, CA to build electric vehicles, employing 1000 or more autoworkers.

For more information on how Applied Materials has integrated economy, environment and equity, the three legs of the sustainability “stool,” see our 2009 Corporate Citizenship Report.