Another Tree Line USA award for AEC
AEC Vice-President Joe McCarter (left) and Wolf Tree Supervisor Andy Steele discuss a tree-trimming project designed to prevent limbs from coming into contact with power lines on a circuit that runs along Highway 92. The Co-op has contracted with Wolfe Tree to perform this type of work since the mid-1980s, and considers the company a valuable partner in the effort to consistently achieve the Tree Line USA designation.
When asked about the significance of Appalachian Electric Cooperative receiving a “Tree Line USA” award for the ninth year in a row, Vice-President of Engineering & Operations Joe McCarter says it’s an indication of how much the utility cares: “We care about trees. We care about the safety of the public and our employees. And we care about providing reliable electric service to our members. When all three of these ideas converge, that’s exactly what this singular designation is all about. It says that we’ve made a commitment to place equal importance on each of these important areas. We couldn’t be more proud to have once again been honored with this special award.”
Receiving this designation from the Arbor Day Foundation means that AEC has satisfied some stringent program requirements. Conforming to a set of standards known as “utility arboriculture best practices” involves many hours of education, training, and hard work in five key areas: quality tree care, annual worker training, tree planting and public education, tree-based energy conservation, and a celebration of Arbor Day.
McCarter is quick to share credit for this year’s award with a long-time AEC contractor. “The folks at Wolf Tree are instrumental in helping us reach our goals. We have worked closely with them for many years, and they have adapted to our changing needs as best practices in this field have evolved. People may not realize it, but tree-trimming is the single largest expense item in the Cooperative’s budget each year. It’s a major investment for us, and it consistently pays off in terms of the increased reliability we are able to provide to our members. Many of the Wolf crew members have worked on our electric system for upwards of 10, 15, or even 20 years. These guys know our circuits and how to perform up to the standards we expect. That experience and dedication to quality represents a huge advantage for us.”
He also singles out AEC’s former Right-of-Way Supervisor for some special recognition. “Rick Hankins served in this capacity for the past 15 years. In helping to ensure access and clearance for our transmission and distribution lines, he had his hands on virtually every aspect of our tree-trimming work—including many tasks related to the Tree Line USA program. We really miss the contributions he made around here. His efforts didn’t get a lot of attention, perhaps, compared with some higher-profile initiatives, but the fact is, people all over our system have more reliable electric service because of the hard work of Rick Hankins.”
One aspect of the Tree Line USA program that is sometimes overlooked is the economic benefit of healthy trees that are planted so as to avoid contacting power lines. Community trees provide cleaner air and water, help increase property values, and enhance quality-of-life for residents. They also conserve energy and reduce peak demand for electricity—a benefit that yields long-term savings for Co-op members.
McCarter has his sights set on achieving the Tree Line USA award again next year, which would mean an entire decade of the Co-op’s having been so designated. He foresees a challenging year ahead, but is resolute in his determination to do whatever it takes to retain the recognition. “There are easier ways to manage rights-of-way, without question. But there’s only one RIGHT way to do it. And that’s what we’ve committed ourselves to, for the long run.”
