BGE gives $600K grant to Chesapeake Bay Trust

Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) Thursday announced the expansion of its Equity in Energy partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust by providing a $600,000 grant disbursed over the next three years.

The money will go toward expanding support for the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps, new work on environmental justice, and expanding the Urban Trees Initiative led by the Chesapeake Bay Trust.

The grant funds will support the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps, which provides onsite training and educational opportunities for young adults interested in exploring potential environmental careers in a professional space. During their time in the organization, members are matched with nonprofit and government host organizations and receive hands-on guidance aimed at improving local communities and protecting natural resources. Members of the Corps are given a one-year stipend, training and other support by the Chesapeake Bay Trust during the year.

New for the 2023-2024 class, Corps members will work on clean and renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, climate adaptation activities specifically in communities disproportionally affected by climate change, mitigating health impacts of climate change in underserved communities and more.

BGE’s grant will also leverage the new Urban Trees Program established as part of the Tree Solutions Now Act of 2021. The purpose of this environmental justice program is to plant at least 500,000 native trees by 2031 in urban underserved communities. Urban trees have significant benefits to human health, climate, the economy, and the environment. Yet some urban communities are severely lacking in greening, contributing to heat island effect, exacerbating asthma and other health issues, and reducing quality of life.  Providing resources through ground-up, community-based grants will empower people to own this piece of community improvement, leading to sustainability.

In addition to the multi-year grant funding, BGE is also committed to assisting with a number of Chesapeake Bay Trust environmental hands-on events, such as tree plantings and habitat restoration, with support from BGE employee volunteers and strategic partners.