Powering Innovation Through Clean Technology

Cox Enterprises has a rich, 120-year history of building industry-leading businesses that are leaving the world a better place for the next generation. To further this legacy, Cox Cleantech will invest in and acquire clean resource efficient businesses that provide sustainable energy, food and water for the rapidly growing global population.

We are partnering with like-minded businesses pioneering new technology and innovative solutions to build a sustainable world.

Cleantech

We have a long-standing commitment to building businesses that support local communities and the environment. Since 2007, Cox Enterprises has invested nearly $1 billion in sustainable businesses and technologies. Through our company’s sustainability program, Cox Conserves, we are working to become waste neutral by 2024, and water and carbon neutral by 2034.

"Cleantech is about taking the problems facing the world and transforming them into opportunity," said Cox Enterprises Chairman and CEO Alex Taylor. "You can run a business that gives employees a better life, makes a return on investment and has a positive impact on the environment and on society. That's the vision we have for Cleantech."

To help solve climate change and resource scarcity, we must invest in even bigger and bolder ways. Cox Cleantech, set to become a multi-billion dollar business by 2030, accelerates Cox toward our goals and allows us to create bigger, bolder innovation in the world.

Leadership Spotlight

Steve Bradley

Vice President

Cleantech Strategy and Investments

Will Thorburn

Senior Director

Cleantech Strategy and Investments

Josh McClung

Senior Director

Cleantech Strategy and Investments

Steve Bradley

Vice President

Cleantech Strategy and Investments

As vice president of cleantech, Steve Bradley is responsible for building a new business vertical at Cox Enterprises that tackles sustainability challenges and drives profitability, topline growth and diversification. Under his leadership, the Cox Cleantech team is acquiring solutions that transform key segments of agriculture, energy and waste to sustainably meet the needs of a rapidly growing global population.

Will Thorburn

Senior Director

Cleantech Strategy and Investments

Will identifies and executes investments, strategic partnerships and new business opportunities for Cox in the cleantech industry with a strong focus on the energy sector. Recently, Will led a $20 million investment in Carbon Lighthouse, a digital energy services company.

Josh McClung

Senior Director

Cleantech Strategy and Investments

Josh is responsible for leading the exploration and development of a fourth vertical in cleantech where he is focused on clean water and sustainable food and agriculture sectors. The platform and ecosystem will be built through minority investments and acquisitions that solve the key challenges facing the world's critical infrastructure. Recently, Josh led a multi-million dollar investment in agtech startup Anuvia Plant Nutrients, a high-efficiency, sustainable bio-based fertilizer manufacturer.

Sustainable Food and Agriculture

World food production must double by 2050 to support increases in population growth, yet current methods are incapable of supporting that demand. Challenges like changing diets, demand for locally grown food and alternative protein sources are forcing producers to find alternative ways to grow and deliver food. Finding ways to address these challenges, while reducing land and water usage and greenhouse gas emissions, could lead to a significant net positive environmental impact.

We are investing in new methods for growing and producing food including:

BrightFarms, a sustainable agriculture startup that uses a scalable, sustainable model to grow food in the same communities where it’s consumed – resulting in food that’s fresher, tastier and better for the environment.
Anuvia, a startup company that makes environmentally responsible plant and soil nutrients from organic waste products. About half of traditional fertilizer evaporates, becomes trapped in the soil or leaches into the water supply. But Anuvia's product slowly releases nutrients into the ground, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and delivering up to five times more return on investment to the grower.

Clean Energy

The production and use of energy accounts for over 80% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants. The energy system requires a new future – one that is clean and efficient. We are investing in new solutions including:

Carbon Lighthouse, which helps non-residential building owners significantly reduce their energy costs and environmental footprint with minimal capital investment.
New River Clean Energy Facility, which captures landfill gas to generate renewable energy and reduce methane emissions

Waste-to-X

Aging and neglected water and wastewater infrastructure in the U.S. requires more than a trillion dollars of investment over the next 25 years, according to the EPA. We believe there is an opportunity to bring private dollars to bear to help address the problem, while also increasing the efficiency and resiliency of these assets.

Sierra Energy, a company that transforms virtually any type of waste into renewable energy and clean fuels using proprietary gasification technology.
Nexus Fuels, a waste management and energy production company that converts waste plastics into feedstocks for plastics production and fuels.

Partner Spotlight

Anuvia

Amy Yoder, CEO

BrightFarms

Steve Platt, CEO

Carbon Lighthouse

Brenden Millstein, CEO & co-founder

Nexus Fuels

Jeff Gold, CEO

Nexus Fuels

Eric Hartz, president and co-founder

Sierra Energy

Mike Hart, CEO

Anuvia

Amy Yoder, CEO

“For sustainable agriculture to be successful, it must benefit the farmer both environmentally and financially. Extensive field research conducted by top universities confirms that Anuvia technology provides an average ROI of up to 5X, making going green not just a good idea, but a good investment.”

BrightFarms

Steve Platt, CEO

"BrightFarms is giving Americans access to fresh, local and pesticide free produce. With each farm we build we make people and the planet healthier. We are proud to be partnered with Cox, a company aligned with our vision for a healthier and more sustainable food system."

Carbon Lighthouse

Brenden Millstein, CEO & co-founder

"We need to do work that is highly profitable for clients and ourselves, otherwise there is no way to scale large enough and quickly enough to stop climate change. As we continue to double year-over-year for the next many decades, we are grateful for existing investors and new partners like Cox Enterprises who are committed to growing companies for long-term impact."

Nexus Fuels

Jeff Gold, CEO

"We appreciate Cox's dedication to improving the environment and their support of Nexus to convert waste plastics into new, environmentally-friendly products. More importantly, Cox understands that recycling solutions like Nexus must be economically viable to be sustainable over the long term."

Nexus Fuels

Eric Hartz, president and co-founder

"With Cox's full support, Nexus has created an end-to-end business, poised to grow globally. This circular solution means all plastics currently above ground are all that's ever needed."

Sierra Energy

Mike Hart, CEO

"The world is drowning in trash which, when landfilled, is a leading generator of methane, a greenhouse gas 86 times more harmful to our climate than CO₂. When you combine our technology with recycling and other waste diversion strategies, you have the solution to the world's waste problem, as well as a valuable source of renewable energy."

In the News

Contact

For general inquiries please contact: Cox.Cleantech@coxinc.com