Duke Energy awards environmental grants.

• Position: Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation has awarded more than $400,000 in grants to 14 South Carolina organizations that will fund environmental projects, wildlife conservation efforts and environmental educational programs across the state.

"We are committed to investing resources and working alongside our community partners to ensure future generations enjoy the immeasurable benefits of the nature around us," said Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe, Duke Energy South Carolina president, in a news release. "By supporting the organizations that do this honorable work, we can help protect and restore wildlife and natural resources, and support quality environmental education programs in our state."

These organizations received grants to improve the environment in their local communities:

Anderson County Library: To support the Fishing Tackle Loan Program, which in partnership with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, teaches library users about local fish habitats and the community's impact on water quality.

Carolina Waterfowl Rescue: To restore and enhance the habitat of a previous mining site in Marlboro County by providing refuge for protected and endangered wildlife.

Chesterfield Soil and Water Conservation District: To provide additional habitat for many wildlife species that depend on the longleaf pine ecosystem in Chesterfield County.

Friends of Paris Mountain State Park: To help with habitat restoration at Lake Buckhorn, originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939.

Kalmia Gardens of Coker College: To help restore, promote and protect natural habitats and wildlife by removing nonnative plant species.

Lindsay Pettus Greenway: To develop the Environmental Education Center area with a baseline natural resources inventory, removal of invasive species and restoration of native habitat.

The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina: To support several priority stewardship projects including trail maintenance, signage updates and habitat enhancement at Nine Times Preserve in Pickens County.

Newberry Soil and Water Conservation...