By Greentech Lead Team: California American Water will be accepting applications
for its 2012 Environmental Grant Program.
The company will award several
grants for a combined total of $10,000 to innovative community-based
environmental projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds and drinking
water supplies within the state.
A number of conservation projects
are eligible for funding, such as watershed cleanups, educational programs,
biodiversity projects, waterway restoration projects, wellhead protection
initiatives and hazardous waste collection efforts.
“We all share in the tremendous
benefits California’s diverse watersheds provide as well as the responsibility
to maintain them. That is why we are encouraging municipalities, schools,
environmental organizations and civic groups to apply for a grant to support
projects that will benefit their local water ecosystem,” said Rob MacLean,
president of California American Water.
The criteria include clarity of
project goals and projected impact, strength of collaboration with other
community and/or municipal organizations and evidence that the project will
provide sustainable environmental results after California American Water’s
funding ends.
In 2011, the program supported The
Energy Coalition which received $5,000 for its “Hydrating San Diegans” program.
The grant was used to bring their environmental education program to various
schools throughout San Diego. This program helps reduce the students’ domestic
water and energy use, with the goal of lowering their family’s water and
electric bills by 5 to 10 percent.
The second recipient was KVIE Public
Television that got $5,000 to fund its 60-minute television program “Debating
the Delta” that educated regional viewers on the choices we face in saving the
state’s water supply.