Advancing Ecological Benefits Through Apex Conservation Grant Program
Apex Clean Energy has recently awarded $710,000 in grant funding for conservation initiatives through its Apex Conservation Grant Program. Since its establishment in 2021, the program has distributed $2.4 million, with an additional $6.26 million secured in matching donations. These funds aim to preserve and restore nearly 3,000 acres near Apex’s commercialized renewable energy projects.
Innovative Conservation Initiative
The Apex Conservation Grant Program, initiated by employees, is the first of its kind in the clean energy sector. This innovative program extends ecological benefits by allocating funds proportional to the size of each project (approximately $1,000/MW). The program reflects Apex’s commitment to creating a lasting impact beyond clean energy production, benefiting communities surrounding their projects.
Ken Young, CEO of Apex, highlighted the program’s significance, stating, “This innovative program enables us to create a lasting impact beyond the megawatt, extending the benefits that decarbonized projects offer to the communities and areas that surround them.”
2023 Recipients and Conservation Initiatives
In 2023, grants were awarded on behalf of four commercialized projects—Angelo Solar, Big Elm Solar, Downeast Wind, and Timbermill Wind. The recipients and their initiatives include:
- Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (Texas): $165,000 to create three “rain gardens” within the Baffin Bay Watershed, supporting the Bringing Baffin Back initiative and reducing flooding, filtering pollutants, and enhancing water quality.
- Trust for Public Land (Texas): $30,000 for the restoration of 2.5 acres of native Blackland Prairie in South Dallas, part of the creation of Judge Charles R. Rose Park, connecting to a 17-mile trail system in economically disadvantaged communities.
- Ducks Unlimited (Texas and New Mexico): $200,000 to improve 969 acres of habitat along the Rio Grande Valley, benefiting waterfowl, bats, and wetland-dependent species, while ensuring efficient water use and enhancing public recreation.
- Project SHARE (Maine): $126,000 to enhance in-stream habitat for federally endangered Atlantic salmon in riverine systems within the Downeast Wind project area.
- Friends of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (Virginia): $92,100 to acquire 0.9 acres of land, improving refuge access, upgrading facilities, and engaging with underserved communities in Suffolk, Virginia.
- North Carolina Wildlife Federation (North Carolina): $96,900 to reforest 80 acres of longleaf pine and 100 acres of Atlantic white cedar in Hertford County and Columbia, supporting imperiled habitats and federally endangered species.
About Apex Clean Energy
Apex Clean Energy, dedicated to accelerating the shift to clean energy, operates in utility-scale wind, solar, and storage facilities, distributed energy resources, and green fuel technologies. With a mission-driven team and a robust project portfolio, Apex is at the forefront of expanding the renewable frontier across North America.
Source：businesswire.com
