RAPID CITY, S.D. – March 31, 2022 - We released our 2021 Community Impact Report, highlighting corporate contributions, volunteerism efforts and overall economic impact during the past year. We provided $5.3 million in charitable support last year to nonprofit organizations, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and energy assistance programs. More impressively, the employees saw a need and stepped up to support their hometowns and shared over 36,000 hours of energy through volunteerism.
“Providing safe, reliable energy is the core of our day-to-day business, but it’s our employees who are making a lasting impact in the 824 communities we serve,” said Linn Evans, CEO and president of Black Hills Corp. “Our employees are championing causes, like investing time in youth mentorship programs, supporting local nonprofits, serving on boards of nonprofits and volunteering thousands of hours each year. We’re proud of those efforts and, as a company, we’re following their lead.”
Black Hills Energy supported communities in many ways during 2021, including these highlights:
- Nearly one-third of the Company’s employees volunteered at least once with an organization in their community for a collective 36,000+ hours of shared energy.
- Employees donated over $650,000 to more than 45 United Way organizations and when added to a 25 percent match from their corporate foundation, this collective gift topped $800,000.
- Tree giveaways helped customers plant more than 1,300 trees, which will grow to filter over 9.7 million gallons of storm water, avoid over three million pounds of carbon in our air and water, and help homeowners conserve energy.
- Employees trained more than 9,600 first responders and excavators on safety near utility lines and pipelines, helping keep our communities safe.
- Contributions from employees and customers to Black Hills Cares, the Company’s energy assistance program, grew by an unprecedented 52 percent and helped almost 2,400 families with their energy needs.
Black Hills Energy serves 1.3 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states and is committed to bringing energy to local communities through charitable giving, outreach, and employee volunteerism. The Company’s direct economic impact in 2021 totaled nearly $1.3 billion, which includes compensation for almost 2,900 employees, franchise fees, payments to suppliers, charitable giving and property, sales and use taxes paid to our communities