Negocios Now

www.negociosnow.com Octubre 2023 15 HINA Wire T his brings its spending with diversity-certified suppliers since 2012 to $7.4 billion. Maintaining its commitment to local inves- tment, ComEd spent $651 million of its total diverse spend last year with Illinois- based suppliers. "Recognizing the important and growing role that diver- sity-certified suppliers play in meeting the needs of our customers and making their communities stronger, we will increase our diverse spend to 45% of our total supply chain by 2028," said Gil Quiniones, CEO, ComEd. "We believe investing in businesses owned by people of color, women and vete- rans is essential to creating an equitable clean energy tran- sition." ComEd's commitment to fur- ther increase its spending with diversity-certified suppliers aligns with the performance targets adopted by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) in September 2022. It is reflec- ted in its multi-year grid and rate plans filed with the ICC in January to strengthen the region's infrastructure and eco- nomy and increase access to the benefits of clean energy and decarbonization. According to the 2022 report, ComEd detailed its partners- hip with 650 diversity-certified suppliers, including 159 new alliances. Diverse suppliers support departments and workstreams across ComEd, including construction, engi- neering, and materials, among others. Diversity-certified suppliers also play key roles in ComEd programs to help cus- tomers reduce their energy use and costs, which are expan- ding due to increased funding from the Climate and Equita- ble Jobs Act of 2021. ComEd's report profiles several diverse-owned busi- ness partners, including Intren LLC. The Illinois-based contractor supports many ComEd initiatives, including the interconnection of com- munity solar projects, which are expected to double in nor- thern Illinois to more than 150 by the end of this year. Once the largest woman-owned uti- lity specialty contractor in the nation, Intren was acquired in 2021 by MasTec, Inc., the nation's second-largest His- panic-owned company with over 20,000 employees in Nor- th America. ComEd Diversity suppliers spending in ten years: $7.4 billion As part of its longstanding effort to advance equity in the communities it serves, ComEd spent $963 million, or 43% of its total supply chain spend, with businesses owned by women, people of color, and veterans in 2022. " Recognizing the important and growing role that diversity- certified suppliers play in meeting the needs of our customers and making their communities stronger, we will increase our diverse spend to 45% of our total supply chain by 2028." Gil Quiniones CEO, ComEd.

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