Clearing the Air – Duke Energy Steps Up to the Challenge
Duke Energy employees are beginning the day by conserving energy – on the drive to work. The company developed and launched a comprehensive employee transit incentive for full and part-time employees in the Carolinas who work in the Charlotte area, including the Customer Contact Center, the Catawba and McGuire nuclear stations and Uptown Charlotte locations. The program encourages employees to reduce the number of vehicles on the road by using alternate commute options such as mass transit, carpools and vanpools.
The program offers up to $50 per month for bus passes purchased through the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) or up to $50 per month reimbursement to CATS vanpool riders. Duke Energy’s transit subsidy program resulted in a 41 percent increase in transit and vanpool ridership since the program’s implementation.
Clean Air Works! – a regional effort to reduce ozone emissions and promote alternate commuting options in Charlotte – presented Duke Energy with Clean Air Challenge Awards for the company’s outstanding efforts during the successful pilot project.
The Innovation Award recognized Duke Energy’s creativity and innovativeness in developing and launching the employee transit incentive for the company’s Charlotte area employees.
Duke Energy’s participation in Clean Air Works! is a direct reflection of the leadership and support provided by Duke Energy Carolinas President Ellen Ruff, recipient of the Champion Award. Ruff was instrumental in initiating and committing resources for the company’s pilot program.
"Duke Energy believes that environmental stewardship is a shared responsibility between the company and its employees. By offering employees a transit subsidy, the company provides greater incentive for employees to take alternate transportation, reducing ozone-related emissions," said Ruff. "The transit subsidy represents just one part of Duke Energy's overall commitment to environmental stewardship and its focus on reducing ozone-related emissions, as well as its long-term commitment towards a national sustainable energy efficiency and conservation effort."
