Hill Heat: Pressed by Climate Activists, Microsoft Leaves American Legislative Exchange CouncilScience Policy Legislation Actiontag:www.hillheat.org,2005:TypoTypo2014-08-19T17:19:05-04:00Brad Johnsonurn:uuid:67013910-5598-4ade-8ea3-83debaf731de2014-08-19T17:06:00-04:002014-08-19T17:19:05-04:00Pressed by Climate Activists, Microsoft Leaves American Legislative Exchange Council<p><img src='/files/alec_sign.jpg' style="float:right;margin-left:10px;width:250px" alt="" />Computing giant Microsoft has left the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative lobbying group that promotes climate change denial and opposes renewable energy, a coalition of climate-activist investors announced today. The <a href='http://www.sustainabilitygroup.com/'>Sustainability Group</a> and <a href='http://www.waldenassetmgmt.com/'>Walden Asset Management</a> released a press release announcing that Microsoft left <span class="caps">ALEC</span> in July 2014:
<blockquote>Last year, The Sustainability Group of Loring, Wolcott and Coolidge and Walden Asset Management engaged Microsoft over its affiliation with the controversial model legislation group American Legislative Exchange Council, or <span class="caps">ALEC</span>. Microsoft is a leader on carbon issues – in 2012, it committed to becoming carbon neutral, and is one of the largest corporate purchasers of renewable energy. Thus, we believe that its affiliation with <span class="caps">ALEC</span>, which is actively fighting policies that promote renewable energy, was incongruous. In addition, there were numerous other <span class="caps">ALEC</span> actions that conflicted directly with Microsoft’s values.</p>
<p>We are pleased to report Microsoft is no longer a member of <span class="caps">ALEC</span> and is not financially supporting the organization in any way.</p>
<p>In emails dated June 30 and July 14 2014, Microsoft confirmed this decision:</p>
<p>“As we discussed, in 2014 Microsoft decided to no longer participate in the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Communications and Technology Task Force, which had been our only previous involvement with <span class="caps">ALEC</span>. With this decision, we no longer contribute any dues to <span class="caps">ALEC</span>.</p>
<p>“we are no longer members of <span class="caps">ALEC</span> and do not provide the organization with financial support of any kind.”</p>
<p>We commend Microsoft on its commitment to open dialogue with shareholders, and for making this important decision.</blockquote></p>
<p>Microsoft’s chief environmental strategist, Rob Bernard, <a href='http://www.hillheat.com/articles/2013/09/17/microsoft-defends-its-support-for-anti-climate-american-legislative-exchange-council'>defended his company’s membership</a> in <span class="caps">ALEC</span> less than a year ago.</p>
<p>Technology companies that are members of <span class="caps">ALEC</span> include Google, Yelp, Yahoo, Uber, AT&T, eBay, and Lyft.</p><p><img src='/files/alec_sign.jpg' style="float:right;margin-left:10px;width:250px" alt="" />Computing giant Microsoft has left the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative lobbying group that promotes climate change denial and opposes renewable energy, a coalition of climate-activist investors announced today. The <a href='http://www.sustainabilitygroup.com/'>Sustainability Group</a> and <a href='http://www.waldenassetmgmt.com/'>Walden Asset Management</a> released a press release announcing that Microsoft left <span class="caps">ALEC</span> in July 2014:
<blockquote>Last year, The Sustainability Group of Loring, Wolcott and Coolidge and Walden Asset Management engaged Microsoft over its affiliation with the controversial model legislation group American Legislative Exchange Council, or <span class="caps">ALEC</span>. Microsoft is a leader on carbon issues – in 2012, it committed to becoming carbon neutral, and is one of the largest corporate purchasers of renewable energy. Thus, we believe that its affiliation with <span class="caps">ALEC</span>, which is actively fighting policies that promote renewable energy, was incongruous. In addition, there were numerous other <span class="caps">ALEC</span> actions that conflicted directly with Microsoft’s values.</p>
<p>We are pleased to report Microsoft is no longer a member of <span class="caps">ALEC</span> and is not financially supporting the organization in any way.</p>
<p>In emails dated June 30 and July 14 2014, Microsoft confirmed this decision:</p>
<p>“As we discussed, in 2014 Microsoft decided to no longer participate in the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Communications and Technology Task Force, which had been our only previous involvement with <span class="caps">ALEC</span>. With this decision, we no longer contribute any dues to <span class="caps">ALEC</span>.</p>
<p>“we are no longer members of <span class="caps">ALEC</span> and do not provide the organization with financial support of any kind.”</p>
<p>We commend Microsoft on its commitment to open dialogue with shareholders, and for making this important decision.</blockquote></p>
<p>Microsoft’s chief environmental strategist, Rob Bernard, <a href='http://www.hillheat.com/articles/2013/09/17/microsoft-defends-its-support-for-anti-climate-american-legislative-exchange-council'>defended his company’s membership</a> in <span class="caps">ALEC</span> less than a year ago.</p>
<p>Technology companies that are members of <span class="caps">ALEC</span> include Google, Yelp, Yahoo, Uber, AT&T, eBay, and Lyft.</p>