ATC awards $55,000 to communities for vegetation plantings
Program continues to support beautification efforts, electric reliability
PEWAUKEE, Wis. – American Transmission Co. has awarded $55,000 to 33 communities in its service area to plant trees and other vegetation. The Community Planting Program, now in its second year, supports the reliability of the electric transmission system and helps to beautify communities by promoting plantings located outside of transmission line rights-of-way.
“It’s ATC’s responsibility to keep trees and brush out of the transmission line rights-of-way for public safety and electric system reliability,” said ATC Environmental and Local Relations Manager Greg Levesque. “Collaborating with communities in our service territory to educate them about vegetation growth in the rights-of-way helps ATC maintain the safety and electric reliability of the grid.”
Municipalities and counties received funding ranging from $500 to $4,000 for planting projects on public property where ATC facilities exist. To qualify, community 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.
The Community Planting Program is part of ATC’s Grow Smart initiative – a program that promotes planting native, low-growing vegetation near transmission line rights-of-way. Trees and other vegetation purchased by communities through the Community Planting Program reinforces this initiative by encouraging the planting of tall-growing trees and other vegetation outside the transmission line rights-of-way.
The 2014 Community Planting Program funding recipients include:
| Algoma, Wis. | Lisbon, Wis. | Rib Mountain, Wis. |
| Amherst, Wis. | Manitowoc, Wis. | Rhinelander, Wis. |
| Bayside, Wis. | Menasha, Wis. | Spencer, Wis. |
| Bellevue, Wis. | Mequon, Wis. | Stevens Point, Wis. |
| Bristol, Wis. | Merrill, Wis. | Waterford, Wis. |
| Brooklyn, Wis. | Oakdale, Wis. | Waukesha, Wis. |
| Cambridge, Wis. | Oconto, Wis. | Waupaca, Wis. |
| Fond du Lac, Wis. | Ozaukee County, Wis. | Wescott, Wis. |
| Fort Atkinson, Wis. | Pittsville, Wis. | Wilson, Wis. |
| Gilman, Wis. | Prairie du Chien, Wis. | Winnebago County, Wis. |
| Kenosha County, Wis. | Princeton, Wis. | Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. |