- Improving the environmental health and resiliency of
North Carolina communities is part
of advancing the company's clean energy transition
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This Earth Day, the Duke Energy
Foundation awarded $500,000 in grants
to local nonprofits in North
Carolina focused on environmental justice and climate
resiliency.
"North Carolina is at the
forefront of the energy transition, with local communities
experiencing unprecedented growth and opportunity," said
Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy's
North Carolina president. "We
remain committed to investing in our resilient state, working
alongside nonprofits to strengthen our communities, economy,
environment and natural resources."
Eighteen organizations will receive grants. While some are
focused on keeping ecosystems healthy in North Carolina – including the 51,165 acres of
Duke Energy protected habitat for plants and wildlife at lakes and
rivers – others are dedicated to preparing vulnerable communities
for impacts of climate change.
"Communities across North
Carolina have seen firsthand the lasting impacts from storms
and excessive rainfall," said Cynthia
Satterfield, executive director of Conservation Trust for
North Carolina. "We are grateful
that Duke Energy recognizes the importance of building resilient
communities equipped to reduce and manage flood risk and that they
are helping fund this critical mission."
Duke Energy employees and retirees are also volunteering their
time and efforts throughout the month of April to support
environmental programs in their local communities. The North
Carolina Wildlife Federation, a long-standing Duke Energy
philanthropic partner, sees this as an important avenue for
environmental progress.
"Earth Day is an important reminder that all of us can play a
part in mitigating climate change impacts," said Tim Gestwicki, CEO of the NC Wildlife
Federation. "Particularly in urban, marginalized NC communities –
where the heat island effect is exacerbated and negatively affects
both people and wildlife – something as simple as planting a tree
or picking up trash can go a long way to help restore wildlife
habitat."
Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to
meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and
work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy
shareholders. More information about the Foundation can be
found at duke-energy.com/foundation.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Charlotte, N.C., is one of
America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric
utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves
1.7 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition,
keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the
forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions
from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions
from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in
major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including
expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and advanced
nuclear.
More information is available at duke-energy.com and
the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy
on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook,
and visit illumination for stories about the people and
innovations powering our energy transition.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Charlotte, N.C., is one of
America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities
serve 7.9 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
51,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves
1.6 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,500
people.
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SOURCE Duke Energy