FirstEnergy's Green Team has collaborated with the Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) to plant nearly 100 native trees at the Venango Trail Conservation Area in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. This initiative aims to create a natural barrier that reduces traffic noise from the nearby Pennsylvania Turnpike and enhances the area's visual appeal.
"The sycamores we are planting along this fence line are fast growers and will provide a nice buffer between the bordering Pennsylvania Turnpike and the trail," said Dani Kramer, an ALT field coordinator. "The trees will grow huge and provide a living screen to shield the natural area from the highway and dampen the din of relentless traffic."
A video showcasing this tree-planting effort is available on FirstEnergy's YouTube channel.
The ALT manages 3,700 acres of protected green space with only 12 employees, relying heavily on external support for enhancement efforts. "We can't do it on our own," Kramer stated. "We are reliant on volunteers and stewards from the neighborhoods that border our properties, and we appreciate the work of FirstEnergy’s volunteers!"
The Green Team contributed by planting various saplings including sycamore, red bud, and spice bush. This effort is part of FirstEnergy's larger goal to plant 100,000 trees by volunteers across six states since 2020. The team engages in multiple environmental activities such as park cleanups, tree-planting events, and creating pollinator gardens.
This year alone, company volunteers plan to plant over 30,000 trees within FirstEnergy’s service area, with approximately one-third located in Pennsylvania.
Trees play an essential role in environmental stabilization by absorbing carbon dioxide, managing stormwater runoff to prevent erosion, preserving waterways, beautifying landscapes, and providing necessary resources for wildlife.
"When migratory birds find their way to this nice big clearing in the forest, there will be food here for them to eat," noted Jakob Radovic, a FirstEnergy Forestry Technician who also works on vegetation control along power lines.
Radovic highlighted that native spice bush saplings help crowd out invasive species like honeysuckle and barberry that can dominate forest edges.
Yasemin Wilcox-Kanell from FirstEnergy Transmission shared her enthusiasm for community involvement: "Giving back to the community is always a rewarding thing, and it is good for nature to have trees," she said. "It’s a win-win situation!"
For more information about FirstEnergy's environmental initiatives and corporate responsibility efforts towards sustainability visit www.fecorporateresponsibility.com.