Is the Writing on the Wall for Companies' ESG Issues?

For example, General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. have raised investments in electric vehicles to cut emissions, while utilities including Xcel Energy Inc. and CenterPoint Energy Inc. are shifting toward more renewable power, the Wall Street Journal reports.

However, the upfront costs to make the changes are presenting new challenges for companies’ capital spending plans, as allocating funds to these types of ESG-compliant projects carry big price tags, cover long-term horizons, and yield returns that are sometimes hard to quantify. Furthermore, many companies are making the investments before new regulations or consumer choices change, which have further added to the difficulty of finding the right balance.

Some are worried about doing too little in the current environment that is calling for more drastic changes. Ratings firms have either cut the credit outlooks of oil-and-gas companies or downgraded others, pointing to risks due to the transition to green power and other factors.

The investments also come as policy makers place greater focus on environmental, social, and governance issues. President Biden has stated his desire to build more electric charging stations and generate more renewable energy as part of his new infrastructure spending plan. U.S. securities regulators are also looking at mandatory disclosure requirements on climate-related risks. Additionally, lawmakers in California and Massachusetts have already banned gasoline car sales starting in 2035.

Consequently, some are already making drastic changes. For example, auto makers are boosting spending on electric technologies. General Motors plans to allocate $27 billion over the next five years to churn out electric and autonomous vehicles. Ford has designated $30 billion for electric vehicle spending by 2025.

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