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We’re taking time to look back at the many ways Owens Corning has given back in 2024. From our Roof Deployment Project, to our work with the Gary Sinise Foundation, to the many contributions we have made to charitable organizations, we’re highlighting the many ways we work to support our communities. Here’s to shaping a better future, together.

 

February 18, 2025 /3BL/ – National Grid and the National Grid Foundation today announced a joint $1.4 million contribution to support the company’s low-income and emergency heating programs, the Care & Share Energy Fund and the Neighborhood Heating Fund, which opened today.

The announcement follows the recent interruption of regular Home Energy Assistance Program, or Regular HEAP, availability in New York State. Regular HEAP funds were exhausted on Jan. 21 due to higher-than-normal enrollment in the federally funded program, which provides grants to low-income customers to help them afford their energy usage. On Jan 25, Gov. Kathy Hochul reallocated unused state funds to extend the program through the spring.

It also comes during an Upstate New York winter that is tracking colder than previous years. According to the National Weather Service, December 2024 was 24% colder than December 2023, and January 2025 was 15% colder than the previous year. Some Upstate regions have experienced more than 75 days at or below the freezing temperature mark this winter. New York City and on Long Island customers experienced similar temperatures — January 2025 was 20% colder than January 2024 and December 2024 was 32% colder than the previous year. When outdoor temperatures drop, heating systems work harder to maintain a steady indoor temperature. The result is customers using more energy to heat their homes and businesses, leading to higher bills.

National Grid’s investments in additional funds and enhanced grants were lauded by the Public Utility Law Project, a consumer advocacy group. “PULP commends National Grid for raising awareness about its Care & Share Energy Fund and Neighborhood Heating Fund – important programs that provide financial assistance to low-income households struggling to afford their winter heating bills,” said Laurie Wheelock, PULP’s executive director and counsel. “With the Home Energy Assistance Program temporarily closing and reopening in January, protective measures like these are essential to ensuring New York’s most vulnerable households can stay safe and warm. We also appreciate National Grid’s commitment to supporting the low-income community by increasing the award amount from $200 to $500 during these cold and uncertain times.”

“Affordability is front-of-mind for all of us, and these programs directly assist customers in managing costs,” said Sally Librera, National Grid’s New York President. “We are committed to helping our customers stay warm and safe this winter.”

The contribution is comprised of National Grid shareholder funds and an award from the National Grid Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 organization founded in 2000 to bring change that inspires people and transforms communities.

“Core to the foundation’s purpose is enhancing the quality of life of those in the communities we serve,” said Robert Simmons, National Grid Foundation Executive Director. “Helping National Grid’s most vulnerable customers this winter is emblematic of our promise to the community.”

Funding will allow the company’s two emergency heating funds to provide enhanced grants of $500, up from $200, to active National Grid customers in Upstate New York and New York City that have exhausted their HEAP allocations for the year.

The Care & Share Energy Fund provides emergency financial assistance to income-eligible individuals and families who are having difficulty paying their heat-related energy bills in National Grid’s upstate New York service area. National Grid customers in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island who live in a one- or two-family house or pay for heat in their apartment can qualify for the Neighborhood Heating Fund.

Both programs, administered by HeartShare Human Services, opened today and will close when the funds are exhausted. Eligible customers will receive one $500 grant per season. To qualify, applicants must:

Have an active National Grid account in their name.Have a household income that meets Home Energy Assistance Program guidelines.Have exhausted all available HEAP assistance at the time of application. 

Affordability Solutions

National Grid has been promoting bill management programs and solutions since October 2024 to ensure customers are aware of available services and tools that can help them save money during the cold weather. Using less and saving more while staying warm is the underlying message of the company’s Here For You affordability campaign. The company’s dedicated website highlights bill management programs, energy efficiency solutions and more.

Customers receiving Regular HEAP are automatically enrolled in National Grid’s Energy Affordability Program, or EAP. The program provides monthly bill credits above and beyond what the customer receives from HEAP. Customers may also be eligible for the EAP if they participate in qualifying programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, qualifying veterans’ pensions, or Native American benefit programs administered by federal or tribal governments. To learn more about the program and eligibility, or to apply, call 1-866-305-1915 or email affordability@nationalgrid.com.

Emergency HEAP is available through the spring or until funds are exhausted. Qualification is based on household size, income, and a valid or current utility disconnection notice. Customers must apply by telephone or in person through their HEAP Local District Contact. These funds are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

Eligible customers may also qualify for HEAP’s Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement and Clean and Tune Benefits. More information about those programs is available from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, which administers the programs.

Bill Payment Programs for All Customers

All residential customers, regardless of income, qualify for programs to manage energy costs.

The Budget Billing Plan spreads payments out more evenly across the year to help better manage energy costs. Budget billing smooths out peaks and valleys in customer bills, by using account history to make bills more predictable. Accounts are reviewed periodically to make minor adjustments and the company reconciles the account with customers annually.

Deferred Payment Agreements aid customers who have fallen behind in their payments. Customers with past-due accounts can arrange to have their balance spread over multiple months to create manageable payments and avoid disconnections.

Residential customers receiving Supplement Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance or a retirement pension, and enrolled in an active payment agreement, may qualify for a 10-day extension on their billing due date through the company’s Bill Extender Program.

Customers can learn about these programs by working with a National Grid Consumer Advocate. Consumer Advocates work one-on-one with customers to meet their home energy needs and can be reached by calling 800-642-4272 or emailing ConsumerAdvocatesUNY@nationalgrid.com.

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About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, please visit our website, follow us on X, watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook, and find our photos on Instagram.

About National Grid Foundation

National Grid Foundation was created to enhance the quality of life across its grant making territory. The Foundation’s ongoing challenge is to create opportunities for solutions to educational and environmental issues. Its objective is based on the principle that giving people the tools to build hope is an essential ingredient in the development of individuals, families and communities. Since its inception in December of 1998, the Foundation now in its 25th year has granted more than $38 million to local community organizations.

Contact: Jared Paventi | 315.427.1092 | jared.paventi@nationalgrid.com

Long-term commitment to acquire renewable energy credits from a new solar projectMatches 100% of Keysight’s electricity consumption in the United States 

SANTA ROSA, Calif., February 18, 2025 /3BL/ – Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), signed a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with Southern Power, a leading U.S. wholesale energy provider and subsidiary of Southern Company, to acquire renewable energy credits produced by a 39 megawatt (MW) portion of the Phase III expansion at the Millers Branch Solar Facility.

The VPPA allows Keysight to support renewable energy development, demonstrating Keysight’s commitment to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. Phase III of the project located in Haskell County, Texas, is expected to achieve commercial operation in the first quarter of Keysight’s fiscal year 2027.

Keysight’s portion of the project is estimated to generate renewable electricity equivalent to 100% of the company’s electricity consumption in the United States and Canada. This commitment will result in significant progress towards Keysight’s renewable electricity initiatives, near-term science-based targets, and goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in company operations by the end of fiscal year 2040.

Ingrid Estrada, Chief People and Administrative Officer at Keysight, said: “We are proud to support the development of new renewable electricity and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. By signing our first VPPA, Keysight is taking a huge step in our sustainability journey, and we look forward to making continued progress in this space.”

Resources:

Corporate Social Responsibility webpage: Keysight CSR Report: Keysight’s 2023 CSR Report

About Keysight Technologies 

At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we’re delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product life cycle. We’re a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com.

Contacts 

North America PR Team
pdl-americas-keysight@keysight.com

Fusako Dohi, Asia
+81 42 660–2162
fusako_dohi@keysight.com

Jenny Gallacher, Europe
+44 118 927 4003
jenny.gallacher@keysight.com

by Carla Fredericks and Matt Aguiar, The Christensen Fund

The Christensen Fund has long considered how its assets could create positive impact beyond our grantmaking. In the mid-2010s, our Board and Investment Committee piloted multiple small-scale initiatives, including one Program Related Investment, several Mission-Related Investments, and a shareholder activism program. We also began a fossil-fuel divestment initiative.

In 2021, after developing a new program strategy and articulating our organizational Purpose focused on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, we delved deeper into a conversation about the impact of our investments. After updating our Investment Policy Statement (IPS) to “align our investments and our values”, we spent over a year developing what we called our “Purpose Aligned Capital” plan.

This collaborative process, which included members of our staff, Board, Investment Committee, OCIO, and external consultants and peers, was approved by our Board at the end of 2022 and created three distinct sleeves for our assets:

Program Related Investments (PRIs) would have absolute alignment with our program strategy and Purpose, and may underperform, have wider range of outcomes, or be less liquid relative to other strategies in the same asset class;Purpose Aligned Investments (PAIs) would be expected to generate market-rate returns and actively support our Purpose; andValues Aligned Investments (VAI) would be expected to generate market-rate returns and not be opposed to the principles that The Christensen Fund stands for.

We spent the entirety of 2023 fleshing out parameters and qualifiers for each of these categories, and by the end of that year, we made our first commitments under this new Purpose Aligned Capital strategy.

Indigenous Peoples face more threats today than ever before. By building an investment portfolio with a commitment to supporting Indigenous economic livelihoods, The Christensen Fund has taken action to support Indigenous self-determination. Achieving economic justice will require others to join in this effort. We know that, just as they have for millennia before, Indigenous Peoples can and will emerge from these challenges. We are excited for this future.

Read the full article here – https://greenmoney.com/supporting-indigenous-self-determination-through-a-spectrum-of-capital-2/