NGE Connects Corporations to Green Energy Projects

New Generation Energy (NGE), a Boston‐based nonprofit that promotes community clean energy, today launched the Community Green Fund (CGF), allowing socially conscious companies to sponsor individual clean energy projects located at nonprofits, schools, and charitable organizations.

NGE created the Community Green Fund as a response to corporations’ growing interest in going green and positively impacting their local communities. Chuck Lewin, Director of New Generation Energy, comments, "A number of green‐minded companies have asked NGE for a simple, effective way to get involved with community‐based renewable energy projects. The Community Green Fund does just that. The Corporation gains the benefit of serving as a project sponsor, while NGE brings in additional funding and sees the project through to completion."

NGE selects a charity or nonprofit organization and does a complete energy assessment, determining where the organization can save the most money while also saving energy and cutting down on their carbon footprint. NGE then determines which energy upgrades to install, including appliance upgrades, insulation and window replacements, and solar power generation. Companies that partner with NGE then select individual projects based on the mission of the supported organization, the organization’s location, and the size of the project. NGE actively publicizes the project through press releases, news articles, and web announcements. The partnership is capped by a ribbon‐cutting event when the installation goes online, celebrating a successful community clean energy project.

Projects funded through the Community Green Fund are designed to maximize social and economic benefits. After installation of major efficiency upgrades and renewable energy hardware such as solar PV (photovoltaic) or solar thermal, energy expenses for the supported organizations are reduced by 40% ‐ 75%. This dramatically lowers their operating expenses, and helps them succeed in their mission. Unlike a one‐time donation to the organization’s operating budget, a donation supporting efficiency upgrades and green energy pays dividends to the organization for decades. A $25,000 donation, for example, can create $100,000 or more in energy savings to the organization over 30 years.

With more and more potential customers factoring environmental impact into their purchasingdecisions, a company’s “green” image is increasingly important to its business strategy. Companies that work with the Community Green Fund can:

• Increase their market share among environmentally conscious consumers
• Enhance their reputation as green businesses
• Boost employee morale
• Make a positive impact on a local charity
• Attract new customers

For more information on NGE’s Community Green Fund, click here or email us at CGF@newgenerationenergy.org.