Noble REMC CEO Ron Raypole, left, recently presented the cooperative’s first-ever EnviroWatts grant to Casey Jones, ACRES Land Trust land management director. ACRES received $2,500 to assist in preserving and maintaining its properties in Noble County.

To assist the ACRES Land Trust’s mission to protect local land, Noble REMC recently awarded its first-ever EnviroWatts grant to the organization’s cause.

The $2,500 grant will go toward offsetting the costs of protecting and caring for Noble County properties, which can total more than $38,000 annually. Managing 960 acres across 13 preserves, the organization’s work includes marking boundaries, constructing and maintaining trails and removing non-native invasive plants that threaten the health and diversity of local habitats.

Established in 2016, the EnviroWatts program invites members to purchase alternative energy generated from renewable, environmentally-friendly sources for an additional 1 cent for the first 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity used each month. This places the maximum price per month at $5 for our members.

These “pennies” are then put into a separate program fund, which is then disbursed to local not-for-profit organizations and projects that improve the local environment and community.

For ACRES preserves, that means an opportunity to connect families, students and individuals with nature through the free public use of their properties.

“Any awards from local REMCs and foundations, we try to use within those communities,” said Casey Jones, director of land management. “When we can work together, it’s awesome.”

For more information on the program or to sign up for EnviroWatts, visit nobleremc.com/programs or call our office at 800-933-7362.