BALTIMORE — Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) announced that as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance and promote environmental stewardship and natural resource responsibility in communities throughout its service area, the company has launched its BGE Green Grants program. In its second year, the BGE Green Grants program is designed specifically for 501c3 nonprofit organizations, which focus on energy efficiency, conservation and education, pollution prevention and environmentally focused community engagement. Beginning today, qualifying organizations are encouraged to apply for a single grant of up to $10,000 at bge.com. Applications must be received by May 16, 2014, to be eligible for a 2014 BGE Green Grant. In 2013, the BGE Green Grants program awarded more than $400,000 in grants to nearly 50 nonprofit organizations throughout its service area in support of a cleaner, greener Maryland.
“BGE has a long-standing commitment to enhancing the communities in which we serve, whether it is through philanthropic giving or employee volunteer opportunities, and the BGE Green Grants program represents another way to extend that commitment to our customers,” said Stephen J. Woerner, president and chief operating officer for BGE. “Importantly, this grant program has the opportunity to make a very visible and positive impact on communities throughout central Maryland. Whether it is conservation efforts through green space and habitat preservation and protection, or through community engagement such as cleanups and the creation of urban forests or community gardens, these grants provide the funds to help make these projects both viable and successful.”
Grant opportunities are available for both new and existing programs that clearly demonstrate a commitment to improvements in the environmental efforts of the community and to enhancing environmental stewardship throughout BGE’s central Maryland service area. Some examples of programs or efforts for consideration fall within the following environmental focus areas:
- Green space preservation
- Wetlands restoration
- Wildlife and habitat protection
- Energy Efficiency
- Projects that support both small and large-scale energy conservation measures
- ·Education
- Workshops, seminars, training and/or public relations efforts to inform and influence the public regarding environmental stewardship and natural resource
- responsibility
- Pollution Prevention
- Recycling projects and drop-off
- collection events
- Tree planting and maintenance to
- reduce CO2 emissions
- Litter reduction
- Community Engagement
- Neighborhood, park and waterway clean-ups
- Creation of public green spaces,
- community gardens and urban forests
Organizations may submit an online application at bge.com for a grant between April 1- and May 16, 2014. Grants will be awarded in June 2014. For more information on the BGE Green Grants program, visit bge.com. For more information on BGE’s commitment to environmental stewardship, visit bge.com.
As part of its commitment to building strong communities in central Maryland, BGE supports environmental enhancement initiatives like the BGE Green Grants program. Since its founding nearly 200 years ago, BGE has played an integral role in working with Maryland communities to address economic development, public safety, civic issues and other initiatives that help enhance our neighborhoods. Through the use of shareholder dollars, BGE supports programs that deliver measurable and sustainable impact in areas of energy efficiency and assistance, the environment, education, economic and community development, and emergency response and safety.