Constellation Energy Contributes $300,000 to Alliance for the Chesapea

BALTIMORE, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Constellation Energy today announced it is contributing $300,000 to the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay for the purchase of 30,000 trees, which will be planted along 6.2 miles of streams throughout the service territory of its subsidiary, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE).

It is anticipated that the tree planting will result in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and improved water quality throughout the Chesapeake Bay. The ceremonial first tree planting will take place today at Energy Drive and Perryman Court in the Brandon Woods Industrial Park in Anne Arundel County with the remaining trees to be planted over the next several years.

"We recognize the enormous contributions that Maryland businesses make to the state's Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts," said Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich. "This partnership is a stellar example of how private and public efforts can be focused to achieve our common goal of a healthy Chesapeake Bay. We thank Constellation Energy and the Alliance for creating this unique opportunity and hope that it serves as a model for similar programs across the state."

"Constellation Energy is fully committed to the practice of good corporate citizenship, and this latest effort is illustrative of that commitment," said Paul J. Allen, senior vice president of Corporate Affairs for Constellation Energy, and chairman of Constellation Energy's Environmental Policy Committee. "We recognize and appreciate the importance of the Chesapeake Bay and applaud the Alliance for its efforts to improve the quality of one of Maryland's most important and treasured natural resources."

"I'm extremely excited about this grant and the opportunity it affords us to offset greenhouse gas emissions while helping improve a critical part of the Bay watershed," said David B. Bancroft, executive director for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. "The grant will also allow us to actively involve Marylanders in Bay restoration and preservation efforts through hands-on tree planting programs across the state."

The reforestation program will span 75 acres over three years and will include trees appropriate for each site. It is estimated that these trees will capture between 4 and 4.5 tons of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) per acre, per year. Upon completion of the tree planting project, it is expected that at least 300 tons of carbon dioxide per year will be reduced. Because these trees are to be planted along waterways, they are expected to improve the quality of the water that ultimately empties into the Chesapeake Bay.

Constellation Energy (http://www.constellation.com/), a Fortune 200 company based in Baltimore, is the nation's leading competitive supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial customers and one of the nation's largest wholesale power sellers. Constellation Energy also manages fuels and energy services on behalf of energy intensive industries and utilities. It owns or co-owns 107 generating units at 35 locations in 11 states, totaling approximately 12,500 megawatts of generating capacity. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland. In 2004, the combined revenues of the integrated energy company totaled $12.5 billion.