Formation 1987 Revenue (2014) $419,740 | Founder & President Rinaldo Brutoco Founded 1987 | |
Type nonprofit organization think tank Headquarters Santa Barbara, California, United States Key people Matt Renner
Jerry B. Brown
Judi Weisbart
Bob Perry
Bob Beth | ||
The World Business Academy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a think tank that examines the role of business in resolving systemic problems facing society. It was founded by Rinaldo S. Brutoco with the goal of facilitating the "redefinition of business as a social partner," one that determines its interests based on the well-being of society as a whole.
Contents
- Origins
- Safe Energy Project
- Close San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant
- Close Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant
- Clean Energy Moonshot
- References
The organization states that its mission is:
Origins
The World Business Academy was founded in 1987. The organization developed from a series of "discussions among senior executives and academics" held at the Stanford Research Institute International in Menlo Park, California. These discussions focused on the duty and function of business concerning the “critical moral, environmental, and social dilemmas of the day.”
Safe Energy Project
The World Business Academy states that the goal of its Safe Energy Project is: "to permanently close California's remaining nuclear power plant and replace all energy derived from nuclear and fossil fuels with a 100%-fossil-fuel-free energy system."
Close San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant
The World Business Academy joined with consumer and environmental watchdog organizations in the effort to close the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in San Diego County, California. The organization states it was the "only business group representing ratepayers in the San Onofre oversight hearings" at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The CPUC, the Utility Reform Network, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric reached a settlement of $4 billion on November 20, 2014, after an 18-month proceeding.
Close Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant
The organization is currently involved in efforts to close Diablo Canyon Power Plant in San Luis Obispo County, California. It commissioned a health study which examined the impact the Diablo Canyon plant has had on the local population by examining publicly available historical health data by zip code. The study, published March 3, 2014, was authored by epidemiologist Joseph Mangano, MPH, MBA. Mangano concluded that "certain morbidity or mortality rates are rising more rapidly in the nine (9) zip code areas in San Luis Obispo County closest (under 15 miles) from Diablo Canyon, vs. the other 10 zip codes in the county, and vs. the state of California."
Criticism by San Luis Obispo County Health Department
San Louis Obispo County Health Department refuted the findings of the health study on April 11, 2014, by stating, "There are substantial and obvious problems in methodology wherein basic statistical precepts were overlooked," and asserted that the study showed "selection bias in choosing case and control groups."
Response by World Business Academy
The World Business Academy published a response by Mangano to this criticism. The response addressed the criticisms of the health department and went on to state that San Luis Obispo County Health Department failed to respond to key points in the study.
Clean Energy Moonshot
The Academy describes its Clean Energy Moonshot as "a California Pilot Project", a blueprint to transition California to entirely renewable energy in 10 years by utilizing "local renewables, community microgrids, and hydrogen storage".