PGE’s Project Zero receives first-ever Corporate Citizenship Award from Edison Electric Institute
Oct. 24, 2024
Portland General Electric has been awarded the first EEI Corporate Citizenship Award 
, recognizing the company's dedication to community engagement through its signature initiative, Project Zero. The award, established by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) in 2024, honors innovative corporate citizenship efforts that drive meaningful change within their community. PGE was selected based on the effectiveness, innovation and scope of Project Zero, which is the company’s initiative to help address critical gaps in clean energy education, environmental justice and the green economy workforce.
Launched in 2020, Project Zero was created to empower young people, especially those from underserved communities, to play an active role in shaping a sustainable future. Through partnerships with over 43 community organizations, Project Zero continues to provide educational opportunities and paid green job internships to young adults to help bridge gaps in the green economy workforce. The program has reached more than 175,000 students and engaged nearly 800 employee volunteers, with over half of its interns securing full-time positions in the green jobs sector upon completion of the program.
This recognition from EEI reflects PGE's commitment to not only powering the lives of its customers but also investing in the next generation of leaders prepared to address climate challenges. The EEI Corporate Citizenship Award was presented to PGE during its Powering Engagement Conference, followed by an announcement at the EEI CEO and Board Meeting.
Project Zero is funded in part by the PGE Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PGE. For more information about PGE’s Project Zero Internship program visit: Community Involvement (portlandgeneral.com)
About Portland General Electric
Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is an integrated energy company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to over 930,000 customers serving an area of 1.9 million Oregonians. For more than 130 years, Portland General Electric (PGE) has powered social progress, delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly clean electricity while working to transform energy systems to meet evolving customer needs. PGE customers have set the standard for prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the country. PGE is committed to reducing emissions from its retail power supply by 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2040. PGE is recognized by the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the company’s commitment to creating a more equal, inclusive workplace. In 2023, PGE employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donated nearly $4.6 million and volunteered over 23,000 volunteer hours to more than 400 nonprofit organizations. For information, visit portlandgeneral.com/news .