PennEast Pipeline Company LLC announced awards of $70,000 through its Community Connector Grant Program on Tuesday, marking a $190,000 investment in Pennsylvania and New Jersey organizations that provide services to communities along the proposed PennEast pipeline route.

This round of grants will help fund projects involving detection meters, a green energy alternative fuel module and stormwater improvement equipment. The following not-for-profit organizations were selected to receive the grants: Albrightsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation, Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Family Promise of Carbon County, Kidder Township Police Department, Lake Harmony Watershed Preservation Group, Lehighton Fire Department, Palmerton Ambulance Association, Raritan Township Fire Department, Shepherd House Inc., SHINE After School Program, Thornhurst Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, Upper Bucks Regional EMS, and West End Fire Company Number 2 of Palmerton.Grants of $5,000 each are awarded to not-for-profit organizations on the basis of need, fulfillment of program guidelines, and proximity to the proposed PennEast pipeline in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.The Community Connector Grant Program is designed to support first responders and emergency management, improve community safety, conserve important local habitat, enhance open space, recreational areas and wildlife habitat, preserve community culture and heritage, and support environmental and/or energy education programs.The grants are distributed on a quarterly basis each year. Recipients of the next round of grants will be announced in September.The PennEast pipeline is an approximately 114-mile, 36-inch, underground natural gas pipeline that will deliver approximately 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.This pipeline will originate in Luzerne County in northeastern Pennsylvania and end at Transco's pipeline interconnection near Pennington in Mercer County, New Jersey. AGL Resources, NJR Pipeline Company, PSEG Power LLC, SouthJersey Industries, Spectra Energy Partners and UGI Energy Services form the PennEast Pipeline Company. UGI Energy Services serves as the project manager and operator of the pipeline.For additional information on the grant program and eligibility requirements,visit penneastpipeline.com/-community-investment.