Duke Energy helps protect, enhance South Carolina's natural resources with more than $400,000 in grants

- Contributions will benefit 14 organizations supporting environmental projects and programs across the Palmetto State

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Dec 05, 2018, 10:15 ET

GREENVILLE, S.C., Dec. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Duke Energy Foundation recently awarded more than $400,000 in grants to 14 South Carolina organizations that will fund environmental projects, wildlife conservation efforts and environmental educational programs across the Palmetto State.

"We are committed to investing resources and working alongside our community partners to ensure future generations enjoy the immeasurable benefits of the nature around us," said Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe, Duke Energy's South Carolina president. "By supporting the organizations that do this honorable work, we can help protect and restore wildlife and natural resources, and support quality environmental education programs in our state."

The Palmetto Conservation Foundation received a grant to support training of and work by Palmetto Conservation Corps crews to protect and improve about 100 miles of public trails. These funds will allow the Corps to complete environmental projects in public lands across the Upstate.

"Duke Energy's support of the Palmetto Trail and the Palmetto Conservation Corps exemplifies good corporate citizenry at its finest," said Natalie Britt, executive director of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation. "The Corps is South Carolina's only trail-based AmeriCorps job-training program for young adults interested in careers in public land management, recreational trails and environmental stewardship. The Palmetto Trail is proud to call Duke Energy a partner."

Carolina Waterfowl Rescue received funds to restore and enhance the habitat of a previous mining site in Marlboro County by providing refuge for protected and endangered wildlife.

"This grant will enable us to provide an enhanced wildlife habitat for endangered and protected birds," said Jennifer Gordon, executive director of Carolina Waterfowl Rescue. "We wouldn't be able to do the work we do without the support from Duke Energy."

Environmental grant recipients

These organizations received grants to improve the environment in their local communities:

Anderson County Library: To support the Fishing Tackle Loan Program, which in partnership with S.C. Department of Natural Resources teaches library users about local fish habitats and the community's impact on water quality.
Carolina Waterfowl Rescue: To restore and enhance the habitat of a previous mining site in Marlboro County by providing refuge for protected and endangered wildlife.
Chesterfield Soil and Water Conservation District: To provide additional habitat for many wildlife species that depend on the longleaf pine ecosystem in Chesterfield County.
Friends of Paris Mountain State Park: To help with habitat restoration at Lake Buckhorn, originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939.
Kalmia Gardens of Coker College: To help restore, promote and protect natural habitats and wildlife by removing non-native plant species.
Lindsay Pettus Greenway: To develop the Environmental Education Center area with a baseline natural resources inventory, removal of invasive species and restoration of native habitat.
The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina: To support several priority stewardship projects including trail maintenance, signage updates and habitat enhancement at Nine Times Preserve in Pickens County.
Newberry Soil and Water Conservation District: To expand habitat management capabilities of U.S. Forest Service lands while continuing to assist private landowners in implementing habitat improvement practices.
Palmetto Conservation Foundation: To support training of and work by Palmetto Conservation Corps crews to protect and improve about 100 miles of public trails.
Partners for Active Living: To improve water quality along Spartanburg's Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail with innovative landscape elements designed to remove debris and pollution from surface runoff water.
South Carolina Aquarium: To support the traveling environmental education outreach program – Rovers – in Marion and Clarendon counties.
South Carolina Waterfowl Association: To support scholarships to Camp Leopold, a school year natural resource conservation and environmental education camp in Pinewood, S.C., that reconnects students to the land community through the use of hands-on environmental education programs.
Trees Greenville: To continue the "Energy Saving Trees" program, which gives residents trees and information that will help conserve energy and reduce energy bills through strategic tree planting.
Trees SC: To support Florence County residents with free trees and education on strategic planting that will help save energy and money.

The Foundation annually funds more than $33 million to communities throughout Duke Energy's seven-state service area. In 2017, the company donated more than $2 million to nonprofit organizations in South Carolina.

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to address the needs of communities where its customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts. More information about the Duke Energy Foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.

The Duke Energy Foundation is solely funded by Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE: DUK) shareholder dollars.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S., with approximately 29,000 employees and a generating capacity of 49,500 megawatts. The company is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing its energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding its natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves.

A Fortune 125 company, Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2018 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' 2018 "America's Best Employers" list.

More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center includes news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

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SOURCE Duke Energy