NRG Energy, Inc., owner of Big Cajun II, a 1489 MW electric generating facility in New Roads, Louisiana, announced a $100,000 donation to The Baton Rouge Foundation to help with restoration efforts in affected communities served by NRG.

"We're proud of the financial and technical support offered by our colleagues in Louisiana and throughout the country following the storm," said David Crane, NRG president. "NRG is eager to do all it can to restore a sense of normalcy to the areas affected by the storm."

Since Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast, NRG and its 1840 employees have organized the following efforts:

• 3:1 matching gift - NRG is tripling employee donations. Nearly $334,000 has been collected and will be donated to various hurricane relief organizations.
• Food and supplies - NRG and our employees have collected more than three tons of food and supplies to ship to a shelter in Pointe Coupee Parish, near the Big Cajun II facility, that is housing evacuees. Over 2.5 tons of goods have already been shipped.
• Charity auction & raffle - NRG used its annual company picnic, on September 16, as an opportunity to raise money for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. An auction and raffle, all matched by the Company, raised $44,000 for the charity.
• Technical expertise - In addition to financial support, NRG assisted the electrical cooperatives we serve in Louisiana to rebuild their infrastructure and restore power in a timely manner. NRG extended our microwave network, and lent satellite phones to our coop customers, when the storm first hit to allow emergency and local officials to communicate with the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness and other recovery agencies. The Company also purchased eight portable generators to provide back up power for some of NRG's cooperative customers affected by the storm.

NRG Energy, Inc. operates and provides wholesale power to cooperatives, municipalities, and investor-owned utilities throughout Louisiana.