Utilities’ Plant for the Planet grants fund public tree planting initiatives
(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) — Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company today announced the awarding of Plant for the Planet grants to a dozen organizations across Kentucky, including cities, schools, and non-profit organizations.
Each year, the LG&E and KU Foundation, the charitable arm of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, awards funding for tree planting projects through its Plant for the Planet grant program. The grants provide matching funding in amounts of $500 to $5,000 to organizations with a history of successful tree plantings in the LG&E and KU service territories.
“Supporting tree planting efforts in the communities we serve matters to us,” said LG&E and KU Vice President of Communications and Corporate Responsibility Chris Whelan. “We’re proud to partner with these organizations to help protect the environment and enhance the tree canopy.”
The organizations receiving awards in 2023 include the following:
- Bell County High School
- Blue Grass Community Foundation Inc.
- Brightside Foundation Inc.
- Campbellsville University
- City of Danville
- City of Somerset
- Easter Seals West Kentucky, Inc.
- Friends of the Parks Fayette
- Louisville Grows Inc.
- Louisville Zoo Foundation Inc.
- ReNewport Inc.
- YouthBuild Louisville
LG&E and KU’s Plant for the Planet matching grant program, which began in 2009, has contributed to nearly 60,000 plantings. These projects have occurred in a range of urban and rural areas that offer public access, including parks and nature preserves.
The Plant for the Planet program is modeled after the United Nations’ Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, which promotes the planting of more than one billion trees annually by individuals, communities and businesses worldwide.
Not only do trees add beauty, they’re also a key component of the ecosystem and play a vital role in energy. Trees help reduce energy bills by providing summer shade, winter warmth and winter windbreaks.
Visit lge-ku.com/environment to learn more about LG&E and KU’s efforts to protect and enhance the environment.
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Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies, are regulated utilities that serve more than 1.3 million customers and have consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. LG&E serves 334,000 natural gas and 433,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 569,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia. More information is available at www.lge-ku.com and www.pplweb.com.
