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Financial companies tout energy service after West Virginia limitations

West Virginia has added Citi, HSBC and two other monetary companies to a. list of institutions that might be barred from some state business. due to their energy finance policies, prompting 3 of them to. assert their dedication to that industry.

The move was the most recent flare-up in a bubbling conflict. between Republican authorities and Wall Street companies over use of. environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in banking. and business.

West Virginia, a major energy-producing state, created the. list in 2002, positioning 5 firms on it at the time.

On Monday, West Virginia Treasurer Riley Moore also added TD. Bank and the Northern Trust Co to the list.

Moore's office says the list is for companies that have. publicly stated they will refuse, end or restrict doing. organization with coal, oil or natural gas companies without a. sensible company purpose.

Citi stated it was disappointed by the classification.

Citi is not engaged in a boycott of energy companies as. evidenced by the fact that we continue to provide to these. business and have substantial credit direct exposure to the market,. it said in a declaration.

A Northern Trust spokesperson said the possession and wealth. supervisor does not restrict or forbid financial investment in fossil. fuel-based energy companies. The representative stated Northern. Trust had around $52 billion in financial investment direct exposure to companies. in the traditional energy sector as of February 2024.

HSBC seeks to work with - not boycott - energy companies,. a U.S.-based spokesperson said through email. The bank expects to. continue corporate financing and capital markets transaction. support to energy-based customers, the spokesperson continued.

TD Bank did not react to a request for comment.

Monetary companies also deal with pressure from the other side of. the ESG dispute, with environmental activists and financiers. pushing them to stop financing new tasks in areas like oil. and gas.

(source: Reuters)