Natural Lands Now Accepting Applications For PECO Green Region Open Space Grants + Bonus Grants Supporting Solar, Energy Efficiency Projects

In partnership with Natural Lands, PECO is once again offering funding through its PECO Green Region Open Space Program, providing competitive grants of up to $10,000 to incorporated Philadelphia nonprofit organizations and suburban municipalities within PECO’s service territory to support open space and natural area projects. 

The deadline for applications is October 24.

Funding is to be used to cover expenses for projects on publicly accessible open space, such as enhancing tree cover, implementing trails, drafting an open space plan, converting to solar and/or LED trail lighting, or installing electric vehicle charging stations.

Bonus Grants

Additionally, in celebration of 2024 being the 20th anniversary of the PECO Green Region Open Space Program, PECO is pleased to announce a bonus grant round will be open concurrently focusing on climate resiliency projects that align with PECO’s Path to Clean Initiative, with goals to reduce PECO’s operations-driven emissions by 50 percent by the year 2030, and to net-zero by 2050. 

The Bonus Round will award one $50,000 grant to an eligible applicant for a project that may include solar panel and/or solar canopy installation, energy audits, LEED construction and certification, weatherization, updating HVAC systems, or upgrades to improve energy efficiency, such as LED lighting, the use of timers, or other infrastructure.

The application deadline for both the 2024 Regular Round and 2024 20th Anniversary Bonus Round of the PECO Green Region Open Space Program is 4:00 PM on Thursday, October 24, 2024. 

All 2024 Regular Round grant applications must provide a dollar-for-dollar cash match. Staff salaries and in-kind or volunteer hours are not considered eligible match. 

The 2024 Bonus Round does not require a match.

Since the inception of the PECO Green Region Open Space Program in 2004, PECO has partnered with Natural Lands to provide grants for natural area improvement projects on public lands by non-profit organizations and municipalities in southeastern Pennsylvania. 

To date, the PECO Green Region Program has awarded more than $3.15 million across the region for a wide variety of open space projects, including those that combat climate change.

We hope you consider applying for a PECO Green Region Open Space Program grant so PECO Green Region funds can support your efforts to preserve watersheds, air quality, and parks and trails for our communities. 

Click Here for a flyer on the program.

For additional information about the PECO Green Region Open Space Program webpage, please contact PECO Green Region Open Space Program Administrator and Natural Lands staff member Estelle Wynn Dolan at 610-353-5587, ext. 213, or edolan@natlands.org. 

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Natural Lands website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from Natural Lands and Like them on Facebook.  Click Here to support their activities.

Natural Lands has preserved more than 135,000 acres, including 42 nature preserves and one public garden totaling more than 23,000 acres.

[Posted: August 15, 2024]  PA Environment Digest