May 25, 2022

Clearway Community Benefit Fund Allocates Grants to 21 West Virginia Organizations

Board of local residents selects recipients for Black Rock wind farm’s $133,214 grant awards

Elk Garden, W.Va. – The US Wind Force Foundation, Inc. today announced the recipients of the first round of grants from Clearway’s Black Rock Community Benefit Fund. Twenty-one grants ranging from $500 to $20,000 and totaling $133,214 were allocated to nonprofits, community services organizations, educational institutions, and other institutions in Grant and Mineral counties.

The 115 megawatt Black Rock wind farm, which reached commercial operations in December, is indirectly owned and operated by Clearway Energy Group (“Clearway”). Clearway’s Black Rock Community Benefit Fund will make grants of an additional $50,000 to local nonprofits each year for the life of the project.

The Allocation Committee of local residents reviewed over 30 applications for the 2022 grant cycle. Keri Whitacre, Mineral County resident, chaired the Committee. “It has been a pleasure working with all the members of the committee to allocate the grant funds and their diligence in the process is much appreciated. A sincere thank you to Clearway Energy Group and Laurel Renewable Partners for giving back to our communities.”

The 2022 grant recipients are as follows:

ApplicantGrant AmountPurpose
Burlington UM Family Services, Inc$5,000furnishing of one room in the Hope Meadows Recovery House
City of Petersburg$3,522construction of a fence at the Becki Alt Landhart Dog Park
Compelled to Change$5,000Lil Homies Mentorship Program
Developmental Center & Workshop, Inc$2,650purchase of an additional ten document bins for the document destruction program
Eastern WV Comm & Tech College Foundation, Inc$20,000establishment of a scholarship fund for wind technology degree
Elk District Ambulance Service$8,500replacement of the ambulance building roof
Elk District Vol Fire Co (Challenged Hunt)$1,00016th Annual People with Disabilities/Wounded Warrior Deer Hunt
Elk District Vol Fire Co$2,000upgrading of the fluorescent lights to LED lights
Fountain Vol Fire Co  $4,000upgrading of the high elevation rescue equipment
Friends of Ashby’s Fort, Inc$2,500installation of lighting equipment at the performance pavilion
Friends of Jennings Randolph Lake, Inc.$2,500construction of nine permanent wheelchair ramps
Grant Co Commission$16,000purchase of playground equipment at Welton Park
Keyser Area Little League  $7,600installation of bull pen for pitchers, renovation of batting cage, and new concession stand roof
Mineral Co Convention & Visitors Bureau$967purchase of nine chairs for the CVB conference room
Mt Storm Vol Fire Department$9,000purchase of SCBA airpacks
New Creek Primary School$1,875baseball field improvements, and purchase of soccer nets
Petersburg High School$5,000construction of a basketball locker room
Town of Elk Garden$5,000construction of new utility building to house equipment
Union Educational Complex$13,000conversion of an unused school room to a weight room
WVU – Potomac State$500preservation and digitization of historic back issues of the Mineral Daily News Tribune
WVU Foundation, Inc (FBO -Mineral Co 4-H/FFA Livestock)$12,600safety improvements for Ag buildings at the fairground
Total$133,214

“We are extremely pleased to be part of this community,” said Doug Vance, plant manager for the Black Rock wind farm. “It’s an honor to help support such worthy local initiatives.”

The Allocation Committee includes Keri Whitacre, Chair; Randy Crane, Vice-Chair, Michael Boggs, Dana Carr, Bill Dunithan, Kristi Evans, Carla Kaposy, and Tony Stutts. Their service to the Foundation and the community was critical in the grant review process.

About US Wind Force Foundation, Inc.

US Wind Force Foundation, Inc., a West Virginia nonprofit corporation, is organized exclusively for charitable purposes.  Its primary purpose is to enhance the community by providing funding for projects related to education, historic preservation, public safety, economic development, public recreation, parks, playgrounds, athletic facilities, and other similar activities.  It will provide funding to select not-for-profit community organizations, and communities, consistent with its charter.  To learn more about the US Wind Force Foundation, Inc., visit the website www.uswff.org.