In honor of Earth Day and the company’s commitment to bettering the environment in the communities it serves, Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E) recently teamed up with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant 250 full-size trees and distribute 900 seedlings to five communities throughout the state.
OG&E volunteers also shared with Oklahomans the importance of planting trees in the right place to safely avoid power lines and other equipment.
“This initiative increases the community’s biodiversity, advocates for proper tree care and the shade the trees will provide offers an innovative way for customers to potentially save money,” said Aaron Cooper, manager of corporate communications at OG&E. “We enjoy working with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant and distribute trees that will benefit our customers and the environment for years to come.”
The Arbor Day Foundation’s Energy Saving Trees program empowers electric providers across the nation to give trees to customers and educate them on planting strategically in their yards to get the most home energy savings while avoiding overhead powerlines when planting. Over the last five years, OG&E has distributed more than 15,000 trees to customers through the Energy Saving Trees program.
“This unique program benefits utility providers, their customers and the communities they serve by finding natural ways to conserve energy,” said Kristen Bousquet, program manager at the Arbor Day Foundation. “The right trees in the right place can help a homeowner save up to 30 percent on their electric bill.”
OG&E has been recognized as an Arbor Day Foundation Tree Line USA Utility since 1999 for its commitment to proper tree pruning, planting and care while delivering safe and reliable electricity.
“Proper tree selection, planting and management positively impacts the ecosystem, resulting in cleaner air, reduced carbon emissions and filtered storm water,” said Alba Weaver, OG&E Senior Manager of Economic Development and Community Affairs. “We are grateful for the opportunity to talk to our neighbors and empower them with the knowledge to plant the right tree in the right place!”
Educating customers on how to strategically plant and care for trees is an important element of OG&E’s forestry service efforts. The electric company also employs certified arborists to lead efforts to prune or remove vegetation that affects power lines or other electrical equipment. OG&E encourages the planting of trees in the correct locations to ensure electrical safety and grid reliability.
