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BP to Award $1.5 Million Directly to California Teachers Through 2006 A+ for Energy Grant Program

Posted on: Tuesday, 10 January 2006, 18:00 CST

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- BP, a worldwide leader in energy, is passionate about energy and energy conservation and is looking for California teachers who share that vision. BP announced today the launch of the 2006 A+ for Energy grant program for teachers. Now in its third year, the A+ for Energy grant program will award $1.5 million in grants and scholarships to K-12 teachers throughout California to implement creative and innovative educational programs to teach students about energy use, alternative and sustainable energy types and sources, and energy conservation.

"We created the A+ for Energy grant program to educate Californians about responsible energy use and conservation. We value the hard work of teachers throughout California and believe that creating a state of informed consumers begins with educating our youth," said Irene Brown, director of California community relations for BP America Inc. "In the program's first two years, we awarded grants and scholarships impacting more than 3,000 teachers who are now using state-of-the-art educational resources to teach students how energy is involved in everyday life and how they can act to use energy more wisely. These teachers have told us that without A+ for Energy, they would not have the resources to adequately support the teaching of this curriculum. We at BP are proud to facilitate energy education and help teachers mold today's children into responsible energy conscious citizens of the future."

Any K-12 teacher currently teaching in a California public or private school is eligible to submit an application. The submission deadline is April 7, 2006. Winners will be announced on or before June 5, 2006. Applications are available via the Internet at http://www.aplusforenergy.org/.

A+ for Energy grants are presented directly to teachers who submit creative classroom, after-school, extra-curricular or summer activities focused on energy education and/or energy conservation. Awards, in increments of $5,000 or $10,000, are available to individual teachers and to groups of teachers working collaboratively.

BP encourages teachers to think outside of the box when creating their proposals. In the program's first two years, A+ for Energy grants have allowed schools across California to not only teach students about the variety of energy sources available, but to engage in hands-on learning projects such as designing alternative fuel vehicles, building solar shoebox ovens, growing a garden for a sustainable lunch program, building on-campus learning labs focused on energy education and taking field trips to see energy sources in action.

"In 2004, we had more than 5,000 teachers throughout California apply to the A+ for Energy program, and in 2005 more than 13,000 teachers applied for grants. We are pleased to see that more and more teachers are making energy education a focal point in their curriculum and are extremely impressed with the creativity of the applicants and winners thus far," further commented Irene Brown. "Now that we are off to such a great start, our goal for the program's third year is to have teachers apply from every school district in the state."

BP partners with the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project to support energy education in California schools by supplying course content and curriculum that is aligned with state standards for the core subject areas of science, math and social studies for all grades. As part of its A+ for Energy program, BP will award grant recipients with a scholarship to attend a three day training conference hosted by the NEED Project to be held in July and August, 2006. The all-inclusive scholarship will cover travel, meals and lodging expenses as well as a NEED Science of Energy Kit valued at $500. The kit includes classroom tools and materials to help educators teach energy.

A+ for Energy applications will be reviewed and selected by an independent panel comprised of California state educational and environmental non- governmental-organization leaders. Applications will be judged based on originality, energy content and opportunities for the students to assume a leadership role in the project. Grant winners will be announced on or before June 5, 2006.

Upon notification, BP will work with winners and their school officials to coordinate attendance at the celebratory awards luncheon to be held on July 10, 2006, in Los Angeles. California government and community leaders, and BP representatives will join teachers participating in the celebration.

About BP

BP is the single, global brand formed by the combination of the former British Petroleum, Amoco Corporation, Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) and Burmah Castrol. BP is a global producer, manufacturer and marketer of oil, gas, chemicals and renewable energy sources. Everyday, BP provides energy solutions to approximately 13 million customers in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit http://www.bp.com/.

About NEED

NEED provides energy education training and curriculum to K-12 teachers and students throughout the United States. NEED programs encourage a "KIDS TEACHING KIDS" approach to education, and provide teachers with the background and content knowledge they need to teach energy in a fun and energizing way. For more information about NEED, visit http://www.need.org/.

BP

CONTACT: Cindy Wymore of BP, +1-714-228-6719; or Adam Silber orMichelle Vega, both of Edelman, +1-916-442-2331, for BP

Web Site: http://www.aplusforenergy.org/

Web Site: http://www.need.org/

Web Site: http://www.bp.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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