As “Earth Month” wraps up, PECO is helping to make 18 local communities even greener with $150,000 in funding as part of Green Region, PECO’s municipal open space grant program.

 

PECO’s Green Region program provides grants for projects focusing on open space preservation, improvements to parks and recreation resources, and conservation. Since 2004, PECO has provided nearly $650,000 toward qualifying projects.

 

In addition to these grants, this year PECO is also providing $30,000 in funding to the two local municipalities who have best involved their communities in their Green Region funded open-space projects. These two $15,000 grants will be presented in September. All past green region grant projects will be considered.

 

In partnership with Natural Lands Trust, the region’s largest land conservation organization, PECO will award grants to the following municipalities: Newtown, $10,000, Plumstead, $10,000, Yardley, $4,560, and Warrington, $10,000, in Bucks County, East Fallowfield, $10,000, Franklin, $10,000, Thornbury, $10,000, in Chester County, Parkside, $5,000, Rutledge, $10,000, Upper Darby, $10,000, and Yeadon, $5,000, in Delaware County, Collegeville, $7,500, Hatfield, $7,500, Lower Merion, $5,000, North Whales, $7,500, Trappe, $7,500, and Whitpain, $10,000, in Montgomery County, and Fairmount Park Conservancy, $10,000, in the City of Philadelphia.

 

Municipalities may apply for a Green Region grant of up to $10,000 per project each year. A committee with representatives from PECO, county agencies and conservation organizations reviews each application and selects the projects to receive funding.

 

“PECO is proud to support programs that improve our environment and the quality of life for our customers,” said Denis O’Brien, PECO president and CEO. “Supporting green programs throughout the region is a great compliment to the projects we are completing to have a positive effect on the environment.”

 

“Natural Lands Trust is honored to partner with PECO in making these grants available,” said Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands Trust. “PECO’s Green Region program has served as a vital resource to dozens of communities, resulting in many excellent conservation and recreation projects that are improving the quality of life for countless area residents.”

 

PECO’s support of green programs and projects like Green Region is part of a broader initiative to preserve the environment and help customers become more environmentally responsible. Totaling more than $15.3 million, the comprehensive program also includes the installation of a green roof and a new Crown Lights system at the company’s Center City headquarters; the opening of PECO’s first ‘green building’ in West Chester, recently awarded silver certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design; improvements to secure LEED certification for many other company work sites; the increased use of hybrid and biodiesel vehicles; and support for community environmental projects.

 

These efforts are a component of Exelon 2020: A Low-Carbon Roadmap, the comprehensive environmental plan of PECO’s parent company. Exelon 2020 sets the goal of reducing, offsetting or displacing more than 15 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year by 2020.

The corporation will do this by reducing or offsetting the company’s carbon footprint, helping customers reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and providing more low carbon electricity in the marketplace.