Sustainable Communities Grants: Empowering South Jersey through Atlantic City Electric's Climate Commitment


02/02/2024


Atlantic City Electric and Sustainable Jersey have announced the recipients of the 2023 Sustainable Communities Grants Program in South Jersey, aimed at aiding the development of environmental, open space, and resiliency projects. The program, funded by Atlantic City Electric's Sustainable Communities Grant program, disburses one-time grants of up to $5,000 each, totaling $50,000. The grants are dedicated to supporting initiatives for nature preservation, safer parks, and increased resiliency in local communities.
 
Kristin McEvoy, the Director of External Affairs at Atlantic City Electric, expressed their satisfaction in contributing to the realization of these projects and emphasized the long-lasting positive impacts on both the community and the environment. The grants align with Atlantic City Electric's commitment to climate goals.
 
Since its inception in 2020, the Sustainable Communities Grant program, administered by Sustainable Jersey, has provided $275,000 in grants to communities served by Atlantic City Electric. Randall Solomon, the Executive Director of Sustainable Jersey, highlighted the importance of these funded projects in building local resilience and preserving natural resources to address climate challenges.
 
This year, grants have been awarded to various municipalities, including Atlantic City, Egg Harbor City, Somers Point City, Commercial Township, Maurice River Township, Deptford Township, East Greenwich Township, Upper Pittsgrove Township, Medford Township, and Long Beach Township. The projects range from supporting the development of open spaces to upgrading parks and enhancing environmental conservation efforts.
 
The Sustainable Communities Grant program encompasses $40,000 for environmental stewardship grants, with an emphasis on open space preservation, park improvements, and environmental conservation, while an additional $10,000 is dedicated to resiliency grants for innovative projects that ensure community safety and reliability during emergencies, such as severe weather.
 
Municipalities within the Atlantic City Electric service area have the opportunity to submit an application for a Sustainable Communities grant on an annual basis. A committee, comprising representatives from both Atlantic City Electric and Sustainable Jersey, diligently reviews each application and makes selections for projects to be awarded funding.
 
The Sustainable Communities Grant program forms an integral part of Atlantic City Electric's Climate Commitment, a comprehensive initiative focused on tangible actions to assist New Jersey in reaching its clean energy and climate objectives. As a component of this commitment, the company is actively implementing measures to reduce its greenhouse gas footprint. Additionally, Atlantic City Electric is dedicated to providing innovative solutions that empower customers and communities in South Jersey to achieve significant greenhouse gas reduction. These efforts align with the overarching Path to Clean goal of Exelon, Atlantic City Electric's parent company, which aims to decrease its operations-driven emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and attain net-zero operations by 2050.

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