The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation recently awarded $1.3 million in environmental grants to 114 organizations across eight states, with $120,134 going to 11 organizations in North Carolina. Rusty Harris, Vice President and General Manager of Dominion Energy North Carolina's natural gas business, expressed pride in the partnership with the organizations, stating, "Dominion Energy is proud to stand alongside these organizations as they provide outdoor STEM opportunities to underserved communities, revitalize and expand museum exhibits, and enhance outdoor spaces." The focus of the grants is on environmental education and stewardship initiatives.
Among the projects funded by the grants are the implementation of the Bertie to Sea program for middle and high school students by Bray Hollow Foundation, Inc., the preservation and expansion of the Blue Indigo Nature Preserve by the Association for the Preservation of the Eno River Valley, Inc., and the provision of STEM field experiences for children with disabilities by N.C. State College of Sciences Foundation.
The grants aim to educate about environmental stewardship, protect and preserve habitat, and enhance access to nature. The Asheville Museum of Science, for example, plans to enhance its native tree and forest ecology exhibit and support a STEAM outreach program.
In 2023, the following organizations in North Carolina were recipients of Dominion Energy's environmental grants:
- Asheville Farmstead School, Candler
- Asheville Museum of Science, Asheville
- Association for the Preservation of the Eno River Valley, Inc., Durham
- Bray Hollow Foundation, Inc., Grifton
- Bullington Gardens, Hendersonville
- E. J. Hayes Elementary School, Williamston
- Halifax County Business Horizons, Roanoke Rapids
- NC State College of Sciences Foundation, Raleigh
- North Carolina Wildlife Federation, Raleigh
- North Carolina Coastal Federation, Inc., Wanchese
- Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium Inc., Gastonia
Dominion Energy, serving 7 million customers in 15 states, is committed to providing reliable, affordable, and clean energy every day while aiming to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. Through the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation and other programs, the company contributed $46.7 million in 2023 to community causes that support basic human needs, protect the environment, promote education, and encourage community vitality.