Descendants of oil baron John D. Rockefeller want an independent ExxonMobil chairman of the board of directors who would consider adding alternative energy to the company's portfolio. ExxonMobil, currently led by CEO Rex Tillerson, but started by Rockefeller in the 19th century as Standard Oil, has been alone among the energy titans in not pursuing clean energy technology; unlike BP, Shell and Chevron, the company has denied the need to investigate biofuels, solar, wind or any alternative energy stream.

According to the Rockefeller family "Having an independent chairman leading an independent-thinking board of very experienced directors will substantially improve Exxon's ability to look the future squarely in the face and will increase its flexibility." A total of 15 Rockefeller family members have filed shareholder resolutions urging ExxonMobil to look beyond its current focus of short-sightedly maximizing quarterly revenues while ignoring the shifting public opinion and looming threats to its core business. The Rockefeller family is seeking support of four resolutions:

-- require an independent board chairman
-- study the impact of global warming on poor economies
-- reduce greenhouse gas emissions
-- adopt a renewable energy policy

ExxonMobil continues to shatter records for profits while continuing to ask governments for generous subsidies for exploration and new technology development. Governments here in the U.S. and around the world are in various phases of considering or implementing a carbon cap and/or tax, which would greatly disrupt their business model and long-term prospects. Clean energy generation from wind and solar and biofuels is approaching cost parity with fossil fuels, and may become less expensive when global carbon taxes are levied. Yet ExxonMobil continues to keep its head in the sand and crank out dividends by not investing in clean energy technologies, with the small exception of developing some hybrid battery technology.

Shareholders are increasingly considering sustainability as part of their investing decision, and a day of reckoning will eventually arrive for ExxonMobil. The Rockefellers are right for calling on fellow shareholders to recognize the impending threat to the company's future and deal with it methodically and over time rather than to have a new president or international legislation force changes that will cause a rapid devaluation of its stock.