PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 5, 2013-- NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) capped off its 2013 charitable giving program with its first-time inclusion in the Civic 50, an annual initiative that identifies and recognizes the top S&P 500 companies for their commitment to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business.

“We are honored to be recognized for our civic efforts,” said David Crane, NRG’s President and CEO. “To be in the top echelon among America’s 500 leading companies for our corporate citizenship is an achievement that speaks directly to our core values. Our employees strive to be a positive force in helping to support and improve the quality of life in every community that we touch.”

For the 2012 reporting year, NRG provided more than $5.4 million in cash grants to 501c3 nonprofits that support local community needs. In addition, NRG completed a $1 million commitment for solar projects at schools and farms in Haiti. Almost 60% of all NRG employees participated in company-sponsored volunteerism in 2012, donating an average of five hours per person.

The Civic 50 list also takes environmental impact into account, and in 2012 NRG highlighted several accomplishments:

• Achieved 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2000
• Returned 97.6% of water used for power generation to the original source
• Purchased 15,000 tons of carbon credits to offset NRG’s travel-related carbon footprint
• Provided free METRORail rides to 100,000 Rodeo attendees and 155,000 football fans in Houston to encourage mass transit and take cars off the road

This year, in addition to NRG’s ongoing giving efforts, more than $340,000 was raised through fundraising efforts and donations from the company, its employees and business partners, mostly benefiting national and local STEM education programs. NRG employees contributed more than 8,000 volunteer hours in 2013 for local community projects and also for improvement projects in Haiti. More than 1,400 employees in 17 states participated in the sixth annual NRG Global Giving Day in May, providing volunteer services to 60 local charities.

“Our employees have a genuine passion for giving back to our local communities and to organizations that really need support,” said Jennifer Brunelle, head of NRG Global Giving. “As a company, we believe in the value of being a good neighbor and we encourage our employees to take time out of their jobs to volunteer at local charities year-round.”

The Civic 50 survey was conducted by the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC), a nonprofit organization that identifies best practices in civic engagement, and Points of Light, a volunteer organization that aims to address critical needs in communities. Criteria include how much financial and human resources are applied to civic improvement, how a company’s community engagement activities support its business interests, and how broadly community engagement is supported and institutionalized within a company’s policies, systems and incentives.

About NRG

NRG is leading a customer-driven change in the U.S. energy industry by delivering cleaner and smarter energy choices, while building on the strength of the nation’s largest and most diverse competitive power portfolio. A Fortune 500 company, we create value through reliable and efficient conventional generation while driving innovation in solar and renewable power, electric vehicle ecosystems, carbon capture technology and customer-centric energy solutions. Our retail electricity providers – Reliant, Green Mountain Energy, Energy Plus and NRG Residential Solutions – serve more than 2 million residential and commercial customers throughout the country. More information is available at www.nrgenergy.com. Connect with NRG Energy on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @nrgenergy.

Source: NRG Energy, Inc.

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