The Realist Idealist

Gas prices won’t be going down for a while. But at least we as consumers can ease the pain by voting with our consumer dollars, and patronizing oil companies that are devoting at least a small share of their revenue to sustainable practices.

HIP Investor has rigorously evaluated and rated the top ten oil companies (HIP Investor Analyzes Big Oil) on their human impact including factors such as amount invested in renewable energy development programs, the inclusion of ethnic and women employees, and safety records for contractors and employees.

According to the HIP Scorecard the “best” oil companies are:
1) BP (also Amoco, Arco, and Sohio) is the third largest solar power player in the world and the solar leader in the oil industry, and its record on hiring women and minorities for top spots in the company is impressive
2) Shell’s progressive management practices—notably including the cost of greenhouse-gas emissions in its accounting—are exemplary.
3) Chevron (also Texaco) is a solid player with significant health and safety commitments and it has enhanced its environmental tracking and continued to expand into both geothermal energy (generated by the heat stored beneath the earth’s surface) and gasoline additives.

The least socially responsible oil companies include:
1) Valero (also Beacon, Diamond Shamrock, and Shamrock) stopped releasing greenhouse gas data in 2004 and is the only one of the top 10 oil firms that does not participate in the industry group American Petroleum Institute’s sourcing transparency initiative.
2) ExxonMobil (also Esso) avoids any risky alternative energy investments and technologies and has doubled it’s investment in lobbying over the last few years; they are the only energy company to receive a “0″ rating on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.