Duke Energy pledges $1 million in grants to support social justice and racial equity

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy, through its foundation, is pledging $1 million to nonprofit organizations committed to social justice and racial equity.

Grants will be distributed across seven states where the company has electric and gas customers ? North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.

In a first for the company, employees of Duke Energy and subsidiary Piedmont Natural Gas will help identify opportunities and direct grants to their local communities. The company expects to begin awarding grants this summer.

"The heartbreaking loss of George Floyd's life and the powerful response to it are excruciating reminders of the progress we still need to make in our communities. We must be part of systemic solutions so we emerge as a community where everyone is treated as full and equal partners in our society," said Lynn Good, Duke Energy's chair, president and CEO. "We're drawing on our greatest resource ? our employees ? to help identify organizations that are working to address social and racial justice issues at the grassroots level, which will amplify the impact."

In addition to these grants, employees also have the opportunity to support local organizations through the Duke Energy Foundation's matching grant program, Dollars4Good, as well as its Hours4Good program, which enables employees to earn grants for volunteer hours logged.

Duke Energy is also strengthening its internal diversity and inclusion programs to foster greater awareness, respect and inclusion.

The $1 million in grants and expanded internal programs builds upon the company's past efforts to support and encourage diversity, inclusion and equity in our company and communities.

However, much more work is needed, and the company will continue to engage local organizations and leaders to understand how to be a part of the long-term solution to the social justice issues our communities face.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 29,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities and 2,300 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.

Duke Energy is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit's regulated utilities serve 7.8 million retail electric customers in six states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to 1.6 million customers in five states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid projects.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2020 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Piedmont Natural Gas

Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, is an energy services company whose principal business is the distribution of natural gas to more than 1 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The company also supplies natural gas to power plants. Piedmont is routinely recognized by J.D. Power for excellent customer satisfaction, and has been named by Cogent Reports as one of the most trusted utility brands in the U.S. 

Media contact: Shawna Berger
800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy