About the Authors
Bailey Peterson-Webster, Sr. Community Engagement Specialist
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Earth Day provides a great opportunity for us all to reflect on the impact we’re making on our planet. It’s also an opportunity to spring into action –– to turn our hopes and aspirations for a healthier, more livable environment into concrete and positive change.
At National Grid Renewables, this type of positive impact drives us forward in everything we do. It’s the foundation of our renewable energy projects that advance both important sustainability initiatives and the local communities in which they take shape.
This Earth Day, our Twin Cities team partnered with HandsOn Twin Cities to bring this spirit of positive change to two volunteer events, both of which involved getting our hands dirty and helping our community partners with their outdoor spaces. With more than 100 years of experience connecting nonprofits, volunteers, and companies to high-impact initiatives in the Twin Cities, HandsOn was an indispensable resource in our continued push to deepen our connections through volunteer work.
Removing pests, building connections
On April 22, our team worked with True Friends to help remove invasive species from one of the campsites in Eden Prairie. We popped on our gardening gloves and got to work, removing garlic mustard and buckthorn, and pulling and bagging mature flowering plants. True Friends employees gave everyone a quick lesson on how to spot and safely remove each of these invasive species, giving our team deeper insight into what this type of conservation work entails.
“The team had a lot of fun while covering a lot of ground,” said Rock Park, a Policy Analyst at National Grid Renewables. “We raked the beach, deer- and bunny-proofed saplings with handmade tree cages, and chopped down and treated invasive buckthorn. True Friends was an incredible partner, and its mission-driven work made a big impact on the National Grid Renewables team.”
The day was a huge success. Our team left tired but happy to have contributed to the native habitat and improved the grounds for True Friends’ network of visitors and respite participants.
Beautifying communities of care
On April 23, our team visited the St. Therese senior living facility in Oxbow Lake to help bring the outdoor spaces to life and freshen them up for spring.
Team members grabbed buckets, wheelbarrows, rakes, and hand tools and used them to spread mulch around trees and between small green plants emerging from the garden beds.
“During lunch, the National Grid Renewables team learned more about this special living community straight from Saint Therese staff members,” said Karen Cusey, Real Estate Associate. “I really appreciated hearing more about the truly special work they do here.”
This was a stellar chance to engage with an ongoing partner in a different way, all while supporting senior wellbeing as the seasons change.
Celebrating the Earth, every day
National Grid Renewables is built on the idea that sustainable futures can and must coexist with thriving, engaged communities. Realizing this goal means deepening our community connections whenever possible, whether through our renewable energy solutions or through volunteer events like this.
This Earth Day, we’re grateful for our community partners for generously opening their doors and giving us the chance to better understand their needs. And we’re intensely proud of and grateful for our teams, who were willing to throw themselves into a new challenge. We’re already looking forward to Earth Day 2026!
