Published:
Black Hills Corp. Continues Power of Trees Program to Beautify Communities for Second Consecutive Year
RAPID CITY, S.D., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Almost 500 employee
volunteers from various divisions of Black Hills Corp. -- along with their
community partners -- planted 668 new trees this year as part of the Power of
Trees program. The Black Hills program is designed to educate the public that
everyone can do something to help reduce the spread of global warming while
beautifying neighborhoods, providing energy-saving shade and promoting water
conservation.
"It's a natural fit for us to be involved in the Power of Trees program,"
said Linn Evans, president and chief operating officer of the company's
utilities group. "It's an opportunity to spread the news that we can all play
a part in nurturing nature. Our desire with this program is to work within our
communities to improve the environment and empower people to do something
meaningful for their hometown."
Trees Forever, anIowa-based non-profit organization that promotes tree
planting, offered training and guidance to the Black Hills employees,
including those from the former Aquila properties. Other groups worked with
local tree organizations such as Trees, Please and Tree City USA.
"It's always great to continue our partnership with Black Hills," said Deb
Roman, program support coordinator with Trees Forever. "Any opportunity we get
to plant trees, educate people on their benefits and beautify a community is
rewarding."
To help celebrate the company's 125th anniversary, the electric utility in
Rapid City, Black Hills Power, will plant 125 trees in its service
territories. So far, employee volunteers and their community partners have
planted 86 trees, and the remaining 39 will be planted this fall.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that a single mature tree can
produce enough oxygen each year to sustain two people. Using these statistics
as a guideline, the Power of Trees program will eliminate 45 tons of carbon
dioxide from the air each year and remove more than 729 pounds of other air
pollutants in the atmosphere.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, when planted correctly,
trees shade and cool homes and businesses, which will lower energy costs and
reduce global warming. Planting 668 trees, for example, saves 1,589,840
kilowatts of energy, enough to light a 50-watt light bulb for 24 hours a day
for more than three years.
Black Hills plans to continue planting trees, helping the environment and
beautifying neighborhoods with the Power of Trees program for years to come.
About Black Hills Corp.
Black Hills Corporation -- a diversified energy company with a tradition
of exemplary service and a vision to be the energy partner of choice -- is
based inRapid City, South Dakota with corporate offices inGolden, Colorado
andOmaha, Nebraska. The company serves 750,000 utility customers inColorado,
Iowa,Kansas,Montana,South Dakota andWyoming. The company's non-regulated
businesses generate wholesale electricity, produce natural gas, oil and coal,
and market energy. We partner to produce results that improve life with
energy. More information is available at http://www.blackhillscorp.com.
SOURCE Black Hills Corp.
Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze,
Daily NewsTags: ,OIL,UTI,CSR,POL,SD-Black-Hills-Corp
_ _Is your favorite bookmark site missing?
Ask for it.
Search News
Daily News
