Evergy sustainability reports show progress in ESG, sustainable energy transition

Highlighting its progress toward environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, along with its transition to more sustainable energy sources, Evergy released three stakeholder sustainability reports this week, focused on the events of 2021.

Those reports included Evergy’s 2021 Sustainability Report, EEI ESG/Sustainability Template – Quantitative Information, and 2021 Sustainability Accounting Standards Board Report. Between them, they noted numerous advances, but perhaps foremost among them, the note that last year the company reduced its CO2 emissions by 46 percent, SO2 emissions by 98 percent, and NO2 emissions by 88 percent, compared to 2005 levels.

For the first time, these gains were also verified by independent third-party verification.

“Since forming Evergy in 2018, we’ve enhanced our ESG practices and disclosures. Last year, we introduced our 2045 net-zero carbon target, with an interim goal of 70 percent reduction by 2030, building on our track record and trajectory of historical emissions reductions.” Evergy President and CEO David Campbell said. “Beyond environmental policy, we’ve also taken a comprehensive approach to reviewing and updating our social and governance policies and related disclosures, including a corporate human rights policy, expanded shareholder rights, and a formalized water policy.”

Over the past two years, Evergy has also emphasized social and governance changes as well, rolling out more programs to link customers to resources for bill assistance from traditional utility assistance programs and COVID-19 relief resources. Those efforts yielded $47 million in assistance for its customers, even as its retail rates lowered by approximately 4.2 percent between 2017-2021, keeping them below the rate of inflation. The company also now grants its shareholders proxy access rights and tied elements of executive compensation to its ESG performance.

The gains and transition to carbon-free sources – from which about half of Evergy’s power is now derived – impact the 1.6 million customers Evergy serves in Kansas and Missouri.