September 20, 2007

RICHMOND, Va. – Dominion, one of the nation’s largest producers of energy, focused its educational grants program this year on innovative energy and environmental education in awarding nearly $290,000 to 105 schools and institutions in 10 states.

One grant will make it possible for high school chemistry students in Uncasville, Conn., to work on converting waste oil from the school’s cafeteria into biodiesel fuel to power a school vehicle.  Another grant went to physics students in Chesterfield County, Va., to perform a countywide energy audit on school buildings.

The Dominion Educational Grants Partnership Program helps schools strengthen math and science skills for students in grades K-12 by providing grants of up to $10,000. The program is funded by the Dominion Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of the company dedicated to the economic, physical and social health of the communities served by Dominion companies. Dominion has awarded more than $1.9 million in such grants since the program began in 1996.

"Energy conservation and new technologies will play leading roles in meeting the future demand for electricity in the United States," said Eva T. Hardy, executive vice president-External Affairs & Corporate Communications.  "It is important to support the fresh ideas and intellectual potential of tomorrow’s workers and leaders of this industry."

Other grant recipients include:

• Students from 12 elementary schools and six middle schools in Calvert County, Md., will work with a school energy coordinator to develop and implement a plan to conserve energy at each of the schools,
• Fifth-grade students in Cleveland, Ohio, will develop a multimedia Web site on energy conservation.
• Pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students at an elementary school in Richmond, Va., for an outdoor learning center in its courtyard, complete with a bird-and-butterfly habitat, weather station and vegetable garden.

For more information on the Dominion Educational Grants Partnership Program, visit www.dom.com; enter the keyword "education."

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with a portfolio of more than 26,500 megawatts of generation.  Dominion serves retail energy customers in 11 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.

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