LINCOLN, Neb. — The Arbor Day Foundation has named Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services a 2021 Tree Line USA® utility in honor of its commitment to proper tree pruning, planting, and care in the PPCS service area.

Tree Line USA, a partnership between the Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters, recognizes public and private utilities for pursuing practices that protect and enhance America's urban trees. Tree Line USA promotes the dual goals of delivering safe and reliable electricity while maintaining healthy community forests.

“Trees are a critical part of urban landscapes all across the United States,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “They provide important benefits to residents, including clean air, clean water and a tolerable climate. Service providers like Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services demonstrate that it’s possible for trees and utilities to co-exist for the benefit of communities and citizens.”

Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services achieved Tree Line USA by meeting five program standards. Utilities must follow industry standards for quality tree care; provide annual worker training in best tree care practices; sponsor a tree planting and public education program; maintain a tree-based energy conservation program; and participate in an Arbor Day celebration.

More information about Tree Line USA can be found at www.arborday.org/TreeLineUSA.

Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. Its recent launch of the Time for Trees initiative marks an unprecedented effort to plant 100 million trees in forests and communities and inspire 5 million tree planters by 2022. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday. org.

Submitted by Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services

Photo courtesy of PPCS