CHEVRON

Standard Oil of California or SoCal was formed in 1911. It evolved from the Pacific Coast Oil Corporation, which discovered an oil patch in Pico Canyon of Los Angeles. The company is considered one of the oil industry giants for having a great amount of oil in its possession. It was renamed Chevron when it merged with another major oil-producing company.

Despite its significant oil supply, Chevron continues to discover places with oil reserves and other sources of energy. Chevron also owns trademarks such as Standard Oil and Texaco Brand gasoline.

General Motors and Toyota use Chevron goods in their own products during the testing phase. The brand has also become one of the most preferred choices by vehicle owners. Chevron also has its very own shipping company that operates mainly in the transportation of its oil products worldwide.

Key People:

• David J. O’Reilly, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
• Peter J. Robertson, Vice Chairman of the Board.
• John E. Bethancourt, Executive Vice President, Technology and Services.
• John S. Watson, Executive Vice President, Strategy and Development.

Even as an oil company, Chevron participates in activities for environmental conservation. Chevron has taken action to protect and conserve the environment by following the Operational Excellence Management System, which aims to reduce the risks and effects of the company’s activities to the environment and to people. Chevron has also contributed to the Nature Conservancy in Canada, which helped in the purchase of 320 acres at Coyote Lake, one of Alberta's richest biological areas.

The company is also dedicated to saving energy and becoming more energy efficient through Chevron Energy Solutions. In 2004 to 2006, the company helped businesses and schools reduce energy use in their facilities by 30%.

The company also invests in alternative and renewable energy development, including installing solar power infrastructure for various schools, government offices and businesses across the U.S. Recently, Chevron Energy Solutions designed, engineered and constructed a 3.2-megawatt solar power generation system comprised of photovoltaic panels for the Contra Costa Community College District in San Pablo, California. This is their largest solar power installation in North America.

Besides oil, Chevron has expanded its business to include alternative sources like ethanol, biofuel and geothermal power. Research and strategic investments have been made to explore these transportation fuel possibilities. The company has been testing E85 ethanol with General Motors and the state of California for its energy efficiency and lower emissions, with plans for its future distribution. Together with car companies like Ford Motor and certain state governments like California and Michigan, Chevron has taken steps to explore the design and operation of hydrogen fuel systems.

Chevron also takes an active interest in climate change. Combustion of fossil fuels that occur during daily company operations in oil companies contribute greatly to global warming and the threat of climate change. Chevron’s Climate Change Plan of Action aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Chevron Environmental Resources

• View a Market Watch article in which Chevron Energy Solutions Completes First Phase of North America's Largest Solar Power Project in Higher Education.
• View information about Chevron’s Climate Change Plan of Action at the Chevron website.
• View information about Chevron and Chevron’s environmental spending published at Stanford.