Ecolab pledges $100,000 to HeatShare
St. Paul-based Ecolab anticipates future savings from a new green energy initiative and is passing on a portion of the benefit to The Salvation Army’s HeatShare program.
Ecolab has signed on to a Minnesota community solar garden project, which will be developed through Xcel Energy’s solar rewards program. As a subscriber, Ecolab will offset about 90 percent of the electricity it purchases in Minnesota. The company’s goal is to support the development of alternative energy sources in the state.
“Through the subscription, we have the ability to lock in our electricity rates during our participation in the program…in advance of any savings we may realize, we want to contribute funds to The Salvation Army’s HeatShare program in Minnesota and pursue additional alternative energy investments within our operations,” said Kris Taylor, vice president of community relations for Ecolab.
HeatShare provides utility assistance in Minnesota and North Dakota. The program is based on need and helps everyone from low-income seniors to people experiencing a financial hardship.
“We hope other companies will follow Ecolab’s lead, by supporting green energy and using that savings to help people in need in our community,” said Mike McGlone, administrator of HeatShare.
Every year, The Salvation Army provides $1.5 million worth of assistance to over 4,000 households in Minnesota, giving each recipient an average of $370 to keep their homes warm.
“But that is just a drop in the bucket – many more families need our help,” McGlone explained. “About 40,000 people apply for HeatShare assistance every year, yet we can help only 10 percent of them.”
The Cold Weather Rule is currently in effect in Minnesota, but utility customers must be current on their bills (before the rule takes effect) to qualify. The rule also doesn’t apply to delivered fuels like wood or propane. That’s where HeatShare can help, depending on the availability of funds, most of which come from Salvation Army donations to the program and the customers of local utilities.