Description

FirstEnergy (formerly GPU) established the Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed) Sustainable Energy Fund in 2000 with an initial contribution of $5.7 million. The fund later received an additional contribution of $2.5 million as a result of the merger between GPU Energy and FirstEnergy, bringing the total to $8.2 million. The fund is administered by the Berks County Community Foundation. The majority of funding available from the Metropolitan Edison Company SEF takes the form of investments made in businesses pursuing one or more of the fund's objectives. These funds typically will be distributed as loans or equity investments, but a limited number of grants are available each year for specific purposes. The following types of projects are currently eligible for grants:

• Projects that educate power users in the Med-Ed region about renewable energy, the importance of energy conservation and/or energy conservation methods.
• Projects that improve the environment in the Met-Ed service territory, as defined by their relationship to the company's transmission and distribution facilities. Grants are limited to projects that propose to provide a public benefit from the use of the company's facilities.
• Studies of the implementation of established or developing technologies (e.g., wind studies, methane quality studies) for projects situated in the Met-Ed region. Projects that, if feasible, are likely to attract investment from the fund will be given preference.

Examples of projects funded in the past are available on the program web site, along with details of the grant guidelines.