CLEAN Environment Awards

Supporting a Cleaner, Healthier Environment in our Communities

At Constellation, we are dedicated to leading the transition to a clean energy future and we strive to achieve a cleaner, healthier environment for our communities. Through the Constellation Foundation, we are launching a new $1M philanthropic initiative across our Constellation Clean Energy Center communities nationwide, to celebrate the contributions of individuals and teams through the CLEAN (Constellation Leading Environmental Accelerators Network) Environment Awards.

The CLEAN Environment Awards provide grant funding for community-based projects and recognize significant efforts in environmental stewardship and innovation. Projects range from local biodiversity projects such as installing living shorelines and restoring native habitats, to environmental education, to an aquatic recovery center for reptiles and amphibians, to forestry and wildlife, to climate resilience and beyond.

View our full list of projects in support of local Constellation Clean Energy Center communities, spanning 25 unique environmental nonprofit organizations across IL, MD, NY, PA, and TX.

Featured Projects

Illinois

Ecology Action Center
The Tree Corps is an initiative by the Ecology Action Center with the goal to plant 10,000 trees annually in Bloomington-Normal and McLean County. These trees will help filter air pollution, sequester carbon emissions, cool urban temperatures, and provide critical pollinator habitat.

Illini State Park Foundation
The Illini State Park Foundation project funding will provide support for invasive vegetation removal throughout Illini State Park along with material to improve trails for access. Additional project support will enable restoration of 2.5 miles of trail surface for Illini State Park.

Hoo Haven
The primary objective for this project is to create a recovery center that is specifically designed for the needs of reptiles and amphibians. Another objective is to create a space where the community can be educated about reptiles and amphibians, with examples of quality environment, diet, care, and enrichment.

Maryland

American Chestnut Land Trust
The American Land Trust project funding will serve as a catalyst to establish the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge. In partnership with the Southern Maryland Conservation Alliance and US Fish and Wildlife Service, a land protection plan has been identified. Preserving this first piece of land will enable the coalition to officially establish the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge, thereby leading the way to future opportunities to recover federally threatened and endangered species and habitat in Southern Mayland.

Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse
Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse (TPSL) will be one of the first four sites in the proposed Chesapeake National Recreation Area (CNRA), a new unit of the National Park System. Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse (TPSL) is still used as a navigational beacon and NOAA weather, and this project support will further enhance repairs. The mission is to preserve the lighthouse's history and its connection with the people of the Chesapeake Bay.

East John Youth Center, Inc.
Through the project funding provided by the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Constellation CLEAN Awards, the East John Youth Center will focus on educating youth and the community about their roles in environmental stewardship. The youth center will serve as a space to hold workshops and outreach events that address environmental issues such as stormwater runoff and its impact on the Chesapeake Bay. Key initiatives include installing rain barrels, creating a vegetated buffer, and reforesting areas to enhance biodiversity and reduce runoff. Efforts will culminate in a "Bay Day" event, which will celebrate these efforts, showcasing achievements and promoting sustainable practices. The project aims to increase community knowledge, encourage sustainable behaviors, and improve local environmental quality.

New York

Project Healing Waters
Partnering with Constellation, Healing Veterans Healing Habitats is an initiative to foster camaraderie and socialization for our veterans long with conservation of our rivers and streams. Program participants in Oswego, Syracuse, and surrounding areas will work together on projects to reduce the impact of human interference on our waterways conducting river cleanups, aquatic and riparian assessment, and macroinvertebrate surveys.

Pennsylvania

Schuylkill River Greenways
Schuylkill River Greenways is a National Heritage Area and treasured local resource. The Schuylkill River Greenways is dedicated to connecting people and communities to the Schuylkill River through conservation, recreation, and education. The proposed project will support Douglassville Bridge debris removal including removing all the debris, both natural and human made liter, from the river course and from the river’s edge, to restore the river's natural flow and improve habitat for aquatic and land species. Strategic partnerships are in place to ensure the project's long-term sustainability and reduce future remediation costs. The project will include volunteer cleanup days and public awareness programs. The project aims to benefit multiple communities by improving river health and safety.

Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy: Butterfly Learning Center
Perkiomen Watershed hopes to grow the Dragonfly Farm into a sustainable pollinator and butterfly oasis. The funds will help the farm to grow and maintain over 150 plant species native to Pennsylvania. The projects will include both expanding native plant propagation and add a new butterfly learning center including educational and butterfly rearing at the Dragonfly Farm. The farm will serve as a focal point for education programs and will serve as a place to rear PA native butterflies.

Texas

Institute For Sustainable Communities
The Institute for Sustainable Communities will partner and support Coalition for Environment, Equity and Resilience (CEER) to establish the Carl Walker Jr Center as a community resilience hub. The project will evaluate opportunities to reduce the energy burden and enhance community resilience in the 5th Ward, and further the development of a solar-powered disaster shelter and resilience hub. This award will be vital in helping the community advance its vision for greater climate resilience.