The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Reveals Energy Strategy and Grants

Foundation will accelerate deployment of renewable energy in Southeast and Intermountain West

ATLANTA – Dec. 6, 2022 – The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is investing in a new energy strategy to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and its positive impact on people’s lives. The primary goal of the recent slate of grants, totaling more than $11.6 million, is to expand clean energy access in regional energy markets, focused on the geographic areas of the Intermountain West and the Southeast.

The expected outcomes of the new energy strategy hold tremendous potential. Increased access to renewable energy helps everyone. With the addition of more renewable sources of energy, more transmission lines to efficiently move renewable energy across regions, combined with more market-like features where consumers can choose renewables all offer positive impact for people and the planet. The foundation will work with nonprofit, business and government partners to bring accelerated deployment of renewable energy to fruition.

“The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is committed to addressing key renewable energy challenges in our regions, working with a range of partners in this effort,” said Fay Twersky, president, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. “Communities, businesses and governments are increasingly interested in addressing the existential challenges of climate change for the future of our children. We can’t solve climate change unless we solve for energy.”

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation energy grants total more than $11.6 million and include:

• $9.25 million to Energy Foundation to inform policy makers regarding benefits of clean energy markets and commitments across regions
• $1.5 million to Clean Energy Buyers Institute to work with large consumers seeking clean energy
• $350,000 to Hoover Institution to launch a new program on markets and the environment with a focus on renewable energy
• $250,000 to The Ray to support transmission siting in highway and railroad right of ways
• $150,000 to National Academy of Sciences to support national guidance in transmission siting
• $125,000 to Northern Plains Resource Council to help rural Montana counties and electric cooperatives procure more renewable energy

The grant portfolio is focused on the Intermountain West and Southeast regions, the primary geographies where the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation invests. The anticipated outcome is that over the next 10 years, the Intermountain West and Southeast will be greater producers and exporters of renewable energy.

“Moving the needle in the energy space can only be achieved by converging many players to the table across the public, private and nonprofit sectors,” said Todd Graham, managing director, Environment, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. “This work is complex. This work takes time. And with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, our coming into this field at this moment in time is incredibly relevant. I’m particularly excited about the work of our grantees who are helping utilities, energy developers and local governments work on renewable energy supply, demand, research and innovation to rapidly advance clean energy deployment and access.”

With the strategy and grantmaking around the Environment program, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is also focused on four additional collective areas of giving, including Youth Development, Democracy, Mental Health & Well-Being and Atlanta’s Westside.  Recently, the foundation announced the new strategy and additional grantmaking in Atlanta’s Westside.

About The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

After more than 25 years and more than $950 million in giving, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is committed to significantly accelerating the impact of its philanthropy over the next 10+ years. The foundation is currently on a journey of deeper learning and strategy setting for its new priority areas: Youth Development, Democracy, Environment, Mental Health & Well-Being and Atlanta’s Westside. Across these portfolios, the foundation will look for opportunities to address the growing crisis of disconnection in our nation. Geographically, much of the work will continue to prioritize Georgia (with a focus on Atlanta) and Montana, while also considering the potential for greater national impact and influence.

In addition to the priority areas of giving, the foundation will continue to oversee a large portfolio of grants including support of essential Atlanta nonprofit institutions, such as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center, and enduring Founder-led initiatives, such as veterans and the military and stuttering, among others. The foundation will also continue to guide the seven associate-led giving committees operating across the Blank Family of Businesses.

Mr. Blank, chairman of the foundation, co-founded The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, in 1978 and retired from the company as co-chairman in 2001.

For more information, please visit www.blankfoundation.org.

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