FirstEnergy Corp. has achieved a significant milestone in its environmental efforts by planting its 100,000th donated tree. This accomplishment is part of a program initiated in 2020 aimed at promoting sustainability and community engagement through tree planting and donation.
The company's Green Teams, comprising employees from various roles who volunteer for environmental initiatives, have planted nearly 34,000 trees this year alone, surpassing their goal of 25,000 trees for 2024. These efforts span across FirstEnergy's six-state service area.
Jessica Shaffer, Advanced Scientist and Lead of FirstEnergy's Green Teams, remarked on the program's growth: "This program began in 2020 with a modest goal of planting 10,000 trees. The incredible success of the past five years is a testament to the commitment of our Green Team volunteers, the love our teams have for their communities and FirstEnergy's dedication to building a sustainable future."
Since its inception, the program has expanded annually, resulting in over 101,000 trees being planted at nearly 300 events. In the current year alone, around 650 volunteers contributed more than 3,000 hours across approximately 150 events.
Tree donations were distributed as follows: Ohio received over 10,000 trees; Pennsylvania over 9,000; West Virginia more than 6,700; Maryland over 5,000; and New Jersey about 3,000. More than half of these events took place in underserved areas identified based on criteria such as income level and environmental challenges.
Beyond ecological benefits, the initiative also aims to improve community landscapes by providing greenery and shade. The donated native tree species are strategically planted to avoid interference with power lines and reduce future pruning needs. Additionally, some fruit trees are included for local schools and non-profits to harvest for food banks.
FirstEnergy plans to continue collaborating with state park systems and other environmentally focused organizations to further its sustainability goals.
For additional information about FirstEnergy's environmental initiatives and corporate responsibility efforts, interested parties can visit fecorporateresponsibility.com.
FirstEnergy operates one of the largest investor-owned electric systems in the United States and serves over six million customers across several states including Ohio and Pennsylvania. Their transmission subsidiaries manage an extensive network connecting key regions in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.
Contact information for news media includes Chris Hoenig at (609) 350-8599 or Gina Caskey at (330) 761-4185 for investor relations inquiries.
Photos from tree planting events can be found on Flickr while a related video is available on YouTube.