An initiative to get global businesses to turn off the fossil fuel tap and switch to 100% renewable power continues to gain momentum, and now the first Canadian company has joined RE100. Announced at the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in San Francisco CA, TD Bank Group has now committed to power its entire global operation from clean energy.

TD Bank first announced in 2008 that it would strive to be carbon neutral. Now the company sources all of energy needs from renewables.

“Few doubt the need to transition to a low carbon economy. As key drivers of economic growth large corporations have a major role to play in this transformation. If not us, then who? And we will have far more impact acting together through RE100 than individually,” said Karen Clarke-Whistler, chief environment officer at TD.

“I've been asked if our low carbon operating model has had an impact on our business. The answer is yes – it transforms our business and continues to be a driver of innovation,” she added.

Along with TD, five other global businesses have joined the initiative.

They include global interconnection and data centre provider, Equinix; Swedish food processing and packaging giant, Tetra Pak; leading manufacturer of modular carpet, Interface, Inc.; global advertising, media and marketing group, Dentsu Aegis Network; and global provider of enterprise cloud applications, Workday, Inc. RE100 now has 65 members.

The RE100 additions also come on the same day as a new government-led push to get more businesses to buy into the 100% clean energy plan. Germany and Denmark are driving the Corporate Sourcing of Renewables’ campaign, an effort to convince more businesses in CEM countries to join the initiative and make 100% renewable energy commitments. REN100 is led by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP.

“The Clean Energy Ministerial is shining the spotlight on RE100 as a model of best practice in galvanizing the switch to renewable energy, and the wave of influential companies joining RE100 today shows the business case for 100% renewables is as strong as ever,” said Mark Kenber, CEO of The Climate Group.

“In many cases business wants to go further and faster. Governments can play a key role by implementing supportive policies, particularly in emerging economies – crucial for unlocking the growth of the renewable energy market globally,” he added.

RE100 has previously estimated that if 1,000 of the world’s most influential businesses become 100% powered by renewables, they would decarbonize almost a tenth of all electricity used worldwide and cut more than 1,000Mt of CO2 every year – 3.4% of global emissions. This impact could rise considerably if they were to successfully influence their supply chains and customer base to use renewable electricity too.