Duke Energy Awards Two Austin Schools $40,000 to Boost Energy Efficiency

Published on Monday, 09 January 2012 10:13 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

Company Building Texas Wind Project that Will Serve Austin Energy Customers

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Duke Energy Foundation today awarded grants totaling $40,000 to help two Austin schools improve energy efficiency and provide job training.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20040414/DUKEENERGYLOGO )

St. Gabriel's Catholic School will apply its $20,000 grant toward the cost of a new state-of-the-art Incenergy Energy Management System that automates heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) operation, boosts efficiency, reduces power use and cuts costs. (Incenergy is also helping St. Gabriel's defray the expense of the new energy management system.)

San Juan Diego Catholic High School will use its $20,000 Duke Energy Foundation grant to enhance its Corporate Work Study Program that provides students with weekly opportunities to build valuable skills in corporate work settings in the Austin area.

The Duke Energy Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Charlotte, N.C.-based Duke Energy. The foundation provides financial support for communities where Duke Energy employees work and live, and it supports the volunteer efforts of company employees and retirees.

Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial business unit of Duke Energy, announced plans on Sept. 20, 2011, to build, own and operate a fifth Texas wind farm called the Los Vientos II Windpower Project. All of the electricity generated at 202-megawatt wind farm in Willacy County will serve Austin Energy customers under the terms of a 25-year power purchase agreement.

"Since all of the power generated at Duke Energy's latest large-scale Texas wind farm will go to serve Austin Energy customers, we thought the time was right to demonstrate our commitment to the Austin community," said Milton Howard, Duke Energy Renewables vice president and lead developer for the Los Vientos II Windpower Project, which will be complete by late 2012.

"On so many levels, the Duke Energy Foundation grant will enable St. Gabriel's to achieve valuable energy savings, be responsive to the needs of our community and the environment, reduce maintenance costs, and eliminate wasted staff time adjusting thermostats," said Steve Balak, head of St. Gabriel's Catholic School.

"Our Corporate Work Study Program grooms students for the real world by training them for the corporate work force at a young age," said Pam Jupe, principal at San Juan Diego Catholic High School. "We greatly appreciate Duke Energy's funding because it will help ensure that our students are well-prepared to join the workforce in Austin."

"We applaud the Duke Energy Foundation for its support of schools in the Austin area," said Austin Energy General Manager Larry Weis. "This is just another example of how our power purchase project with Duke Energy brings benefits to our community."

About Duke Energy Renewables

Duke Energy Renewables, part of Duke Energy's Commercial Businesses, is a leader in developing innovative wind and solar energy solutions for customers throughout the United States. The company's growing portfolio of commercial renewable assets includes 10 wind farms and 11 solar farms in operation in eight states, totaling approximately 1,000 megawatts in electric-generating capacity. Since 2007, Duke Energy Renewables has invested more than $1.75 billion to grow its wind and solar power businesses. Learn more about Duke Energy Renewables at www.duke-energy.com/renewables.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available online at www.duke-energy.com.

SOURCE Duke Energy