Duke Energy Awards $300,000 Toward Climate Resiliency Initiatives To Support Conservation And Restor

Duke Energy Foundation allocated $300,000 to 13 mission-driven organizations focused on preserving Florida’s natural landscapes and strengthening climate resilience.

Why it matters: The grants fund a range of environmental programs designed to enhance Florida’s natural resiliency and promote long-term sustainability. The initiatives include projects focused on water quality, conservation, habitat restoration, forestry, species protection and community-based conservation efforts.

Each grant supports a strategic effort to protect and restore Florida’s ecosystems while encouraging collaboration among local and statewide partners. Duke Energy Foundation remains committed to building a cleaner, more sustainable future for Florida by supporting innovative solutions and aligning with organizations that share these goals.

Big picture: Duke Energy Foundation has contributed more than $3.8 million in grants to Florida organizations in support of sustainability and conservation projects since 2020.

Benefiting organizations include:

• Statewide - $100,000 total
  • The Nature Conservancy – Funds support the Gamble Place Preserve stewardship project, aimed at rehabilitating the site’s native habitat and historic structures.
     
  • University of Florida Foundation Inc. – Supports the Urban Futures program, which brings together Florida’s small cities to collaboratively address urban redevelopment in opportunity zones and low-developed areas with a focus on storm resilience.
     
  • One Tree Planted – The project is planting 224,000 longleaf pine and Slash pine trees to restore 137 hectares of degraded land in the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest.
     
• Local organizations - $200,000 total
   
  • Florida Wild Mammal Association – Supports the FWMA’s wildlife hospital.
     
  • OysterCorps: FloridaCorps – Provides training, field work experiences and crew member certifications to strengthen coastal resilience.
     
  • Conservation Florida Bioblitz – Invites people of all backgrounds to explore, observe and identify species in nature through a public event.
     
  • Bok Tower Gardens, Inc. – Restores the area of critical scrub habitat at Shadow Bay Park in Orange County.
     
  • Archbold Expeditions – Supports the Avian Ecology Research Internship, to help collect data on the endangered Scrub-Jay and prepare students for their futures.
     
  • The School Board of Polk County Career, Technical and Agricultural Education Office – Host the Polk County Agri Fest for 4^th graders and support classroom engagement throughout the school year.
     
  • High Springs Police Department – Launch Project BRINC to integrate advanced drone technology into frontline public safety operations.
     
  • Conservation Florida, Inc. – Host eight free community education and engagement events in Orange and Osceola Counties to highlight local conservation news and host outdoor adventures.
     
  • WEDU Public Channel (PBS) – Contribute to the SUSTAIN program, which supports sustainability initiatives.
     
  • Tampa Bay Watch – Support coastal resiliency projects following Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Pinellas County at Coquina Key Bird Island and Maximo Park.

What they’re saying:

Melissa Seixas, president, Duke Energy Florida: “The vitality of Florida’s communities depends on the health of its natural resources. We’re honored to support initiatives that protect and restore the landscapes we all share, helping to build a stronger, more resilient future.”

Greg Knecht, executive director, The Nature Conservancy Florida: “Providing Florida communities with access to natural spaces is more important than ever. This Duke Energy Foundation grant will help revive the historic Gamble Place Preserve, strengthening the local ecosystem by restoring the landscape and opening doors to opportunities for the public to connect with nature. We are grateful for Duke Energy's longstanding partnership and look forward to sharing future conservation wins.”

Lesley Whyte, senior philanthropy officer, One Tree Planted: "We are grateful to receive the generous support of Duke Energy Foundation, a partnership that empowers One Tree Planted's mission to cultivate a more sustainable and resilient future. This commitment will fund Longleaf pine reforestation in Florida, revitalizing degraded landscapes to enhance soil, water, and ecological health—delivering vital ecosystem services for both native biodiversity and the surrounding communities."

Duke Energy Foundation

Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders. 

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. 

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.