California Resources Corp. (CRC) on June 14 tapped Chris Gould to lead its ESG push as its first-ever chief sustainability officer.

Based in Santa Clarita, Calif., CRC describes itself as an E&P company “committed to environmentally sustainable and responsible development of its properties,” which are located in California’s four major oil and gas basins.  The company expects the appointment of Gould, previously the head of sustainability for utility company Exelon Corp., will help CRC reach 2030 sustainability targets set for carbon, methane, water and renewables.

“Bringing Chris on board reflects the importance of our ESG initiatives and our commitment to decarbonization and a realistic energy transition,” Mac McFarland, CEO and president of CRC, said in a statement on June 14. “His considerable leadership skills and experience in climate change and implementation of new technologies will help the company deliver on our goals while maintaining ESG leadership.”

For the past decade, Gould has served as senior vice president of corporate strategy and chief innovation and sustainability officer at Exelon, a Fortune 100 energy company. In this role, he built and led the company’s overall climate/ESG programs, including the development of climate mitigation and adaptation transition plans, according to a release by CRC.

In a statement, Gould commented that he believes CRC has great potential to elevate its ESG leadership by leveraging its strategic position, assets and opportunities to contribute to California’s decarbonization and energy transition efforts.

“To be more specific, I am particularly thrilled about CCS opportunities within CRC’s vast asset base that can become building blocks that help California meet its carbon goals while sustainably supporting the state’s energy demand.”

In 2017, California set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. More recently, the state has begun to push for the ban of the sale of new gasoline-powered passenger cars and trucks with Gov. Gavin Newsom signing an executive order last September.

Gould also has extensive experience in energy trading, finance, strategic planning and technology innovation focused on decarbonization. His commitment to sustainability and the environment has been reflected throughout his career, the CRC release said.

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