American Transmission Co. awards $74,500 to sponsor community plantings
Program supports efforts to beautify communities
PEWAUKEE, Wis. – American Transmission Co. this year launched a planting program to support tree and vegetation planting in communities in its service area. During the first year of the program 59 eligible municipalities and counties received financial support for planting projects on public property within their communities in the form of grants ranging from $250 to $5,000.
“As an owner and operator of the area electric transmission system, it is our responsibility to keep trees and brush out of the rights-of-way of our power lines for safety and reliability reasons,” said ATC Environmental and Local Relations Manager Greg Levesque. “This program allows us to improve electric reliability by educating communities about plantings that are consistent with our safety and maintenance standards while also supporting efforts to beautify communities.”
To qualify, recipients committed to complying with ATC’s maintenance standards for all current and future planting plans and urban forestry activities near high-voltage electric transmission lines. Priority favored projects that promote safety and reliability of the transmission system by supporting right-of-way best management practices and keeping trees out of the right-of-way.
2013 Tree Planting Program funding recipients:
| Antigo, Wis. Appleton, Wis. Baraboo, Wis. Bayside, Wis. Brooklyn, Wis. Bruce, Wis. Cambridge, Wis. Combined Locks, Wis. De Forest, Wis. Delafield, Wis. Dunn, Wis. Fitchburg, Wis. Fond du Lac, Wis. Franklin, Wis. Fredonia, Wis. | Germantown, Wis. Gilman, Wis. Grafton, Wis. Grand Chute, Wis. Greenfield, Wis. Greenville, Wis. Hillsboro, Wis. Hortonville, Wis. Hull, Wis. Kronenwetter, Wis. Mauston, Wis. McFarland, Wis. Menasha, Wis. Merrimac, Wis. Necedah, Wis. | Neenah, Wis. Oak Creek, Wis. Oliver, Wis. Omro, Wis. Owen, Wis. Ozaukee County, Wis. Peshtigo, Wis. Pittsville, Wis. Port Edwards, Wis. Prairie Du Chien, Wis. Prairie du Sac, Wis. Rhinelander, Wis. Richland Center, Wis. Sheboygan, Wis. Spencer, Wis. | Stevens Point, Wis. Stoddard, Wis. Superior, Wis. Tomah, Wis. Tomahawk, Wis. Waterford, Wis. Waukesha, Wis. Waunakee, Wis. Waupaca, Wis. Wausau, Wis. Wilson, Wis. Winnebago County, Wis. Winneconne, Wis. Wisconsin Dells, Wis. |
ATC will accept applications for its 2014 Tree Planting Program June 1 through Sept. 30, 2014, and recipients will be selected by the end of 2014. Additional information, including a program brochure and eligibility information, is available on the ATC website: http://www.atcllc.com/learning-center/trees-and-vegetation/grow-smart-and-safely-in-your-community/.