Tree Line USA flags will fly at its Adams Electric office locations in Gettysburg, Shippensburg and York during the month of April in honor of the new designation and Arbor Day 2009 (Friday, April 24). Raising the Tree Line flag at the Gettysburg headquarters office are, from left, Vice President of Operations Ron Plank, Gettysburg Line Superintendent Rich Redding and CEO/General Manager Steve Rasmussen.
Adams Electric Cooperative has been rewarded for the way it manages trees and vegetation in its rights-of-way by the Arbor Day Foundation, which recently named the cooperative a Tree Line USA Utility.
The title recognizes the utility’s successful completion of three requirements: 1) operating a program of quality tree care; 2) conducting annual worker training in tree care practices; and 3) undertaking a tree planting and public education program.
One of the main objectives of Tree Line USA, sponsored in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters, is replacing the outdated right-of-way clearing practice of tree topping with natural pruning practices. Natural pruning trains trees to grow around wires, resulting in healthier trees and reduced clearance costs for utility companies.
“Acceptance by Tree Line USA means that we are keeping up with the latest methods of clearing trees and vegetation from around our lines and equipment,” says Adams Electric CEO/General Manager Steve Rasmussen. “It also shows our dedication to protecting and preserving the trees in our community.”
Adams Electric began its application last year on Arbor Day when it planted trees with students of Conewago Valley Intermediate School, New Oxford and employees of its vegetation management vendor, Asplundh Tree Expert Co. Twenty-one Norway spruce trees were planted for shade around the school’s property line. In addition, trees were planted between the co-op’s Gettysburg district office and its headquarters.
According to John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, trees help to reduce peak demand by conserving energy. “They also clean the air and water, increase property value, and make our homes more comfortable, livable places,” he says.
According to Rosenow, the designation recognizes that Adams Electric is committed to making local communities more livable while reducing energy demand peaks. Tree Line USA utilities include both investor-owned and public electricity providers.
Adams Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Gettysburg, Pa., provides electric service to 31,000 homes, farms and businesses in Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York counties.