October 13, 2009Mr. Anthony F. EarleyChairman and CEODTE Energy2000 2nd AvenueDetroit, MI 48226-1279Dear Mr. Earley:We are writing to applaud DTE Energy for its significant achievements in corporateresponsibility and sustainability, particularly with respect to climate change. As investors, we arealso writing to express our concern over the glaring contradiction between the company’s position and that of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) on this critical issue.The Center for Political Accountability, a nonpartisan advocacy group promoting corporate political transparency and accountability, has highlighted this misalignment as posing risks tocompanies and their shareholders and has urged companies to take steps to address thiscontradiction, in conjunction with investors.We commend DTE Energy for the leadership position it has taken on environmental issues suchas climate change. Your company is a member of Pew’s Business Environmental LeadershipCouncil (BELC), actively supports climate legislation, and has made multiple public statementsthat demonstrate DTE Energy’s commitment to sustainable business.On the other hand, DTE Energy is also a member of NAM and may also belong to the Chamber,trade associations that have played a particularly antagonistic role in climate negotiations andwhich hold views counter to those of BELC. The Chamber has even gone so far as to propose a“Scopes monkey”-like trial challenging the science around global warming, while the scientificcommunity has concluded that the evidence of global climate change demands a swift and urgentresponse to reduce pollution. NAM and the Chamber’s position and active voice on climate change are especiallyembarrassing for numerous members who are proactive leaders on reducing greenhouse gasesand limiting their negative impact with respect to climate change. Furthermore, while somecompanies, including DTE Energy, have articulated a business rationale for a national policy thatreduces greenhouse gas emissions, their membership in NAM/Chamber is sending a starklycontradictory message. Shareholders and the media are becoming increasingly aware of themisalignment between a company’s stated policies and positions and those of its tradeassociations. As investors we urge DTE Energy to integrate its political spending and associationmemberships with its publicly stated, forward looking policy and positions on climate change.We are pleased to see the growing number of companies that have announced their disagreementwith these trade associations. Apple, PNM Resources, Exelon and PG&E recently quit theChamber and Duke Energy withdrew its membership from NAM. Other companies, including
Johnson & Johnson and General Electric, have publicly stated that the Chamber does notrepresent their position on climate change. In addition, Nike resigned from the Chamber Board.We urge DTE Energy to also make its voice heard on this critical issue.There are a number of ways concerned companies can respond including:
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Withdrawing DTE Energy’s membership from NAM/Chamber or resigning from theassociations’ boards
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Declaring in a public letter that DTE Energy does not share the basic position of the NAM/Chamber on climate change and that it has informed the association of its verydifferent position
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Asking that the NAM/Chamber publicize on its website that DTE Energy does not sharethe same view on climate change
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Disclosing the portion of the company’s payments to trade associations and politicallyactive organizations that are used for political purposes
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Requesting a credit or refund of the portion of DTE Energy’s payments to the NAM/Chamber that have been used to lobby on climate changeAs DTE Energy clearly understands, the time for action on climate change is now. It is criticalthat companies such as DTE Energy take a position of industry leadership to address this game-changing problem. We hope DTE Energy will demonstrate its leadership on the climate issue bytaking urgent action to highlight your opposition to NAM and the Chamber on climate change.To follow up on this request please contact Tim Smith of Walden Asset Management attsmith@bostontrust.comor 617-726-7155 or Emily Stone of Green Century Capital Managementatestone@greencentury.comor 617-482-0800.Sincerely, Kristina Curtis Timothy SmithSenior Vice President Senior Vice PresidentGreen Century Capital Management, Inc. Walden Asset ManagementBruce FreedRob ThomasPresidentPresidentCenter for Political Accountability Social(k)
Susan Vickers, RDMBruce Herbert, AIFVP Community HealthChief ExecutiveCatholic Health Care WestNewground Social InvestmentMargaret WeberJulie Fox GorteCorporate Responsibility DirectorSenior Vice PresidentBasilian Fathers of TorontoPax World Management CorpAdam KanzerJohn GonzalezManaging Director & General CounselExecutive Director Domini Social InvestmentsNorth American PassionistJPIC Office Steven HeimJames McRitchieDirector of Social Research and AdvocacyPublisher Boston Common Asset ManagementCorporate GovernanceSanford LewisTimothy BrennanAttorney Treasurer & CFOStrategic Counsel onUnitarian Universalist AssociationCorporate AccountabilityConrad MackerronRaymond C. Offenheiser Director, Corporate Social Responsibility PresidentAs You SowOxfam America
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