Potomac Edison Employees Plant Hundreds of FirstEnergy-Donated Trees in Maryland

Dozens of Potomac Edison employees channeled their inner green thumb this spring by helping to plant nearly 2,700 trees in the local communities where they live and work.

But this is nothing new to them.

Each year, Potomac Edison’s parent company, FirstEnergy, teams with Streamlink in Frederick, Maryland, to purchase trees and plant them locally. The trees are then planted by volunteers and members of Potomac Edison’s Green Team, a group of employees at each of FirstEnergy’s 10 electric companies that volunteer their time and talents to develop and support environmental initiatives.  As part of this joint effort, volunteers helped plant 100 trees in Emmitsburg, Frederick County, while adding stakes and fertilizer to another 150 existing trees in that area.

Volunteers also planted more than 400 trees at Cunningham Falls State Park and removed invasive plants from the area as well. VIEW: You can find photos from the Cunningham Falls planting on Flickr

“Trees beautify our neighborhoods and provide shade and homes for songbirds and wildlife” said Michele Dellinger, a Potomac Edison forestry specialist. “They soak up stormwater that causes erosion and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, benefiting the climate.”

Just in time for the spring and summer months, employees planted more than 200 new trees in the campground area of Deep Creek State Park. They also helped restore trails at the park by removing several invasive species. VIEW: You can find photos from the Deep Creek planting on Flickr

“It is fulfilling to see so many employees live out our company’s core value of stewardship, by volunteering to work hard at these spring planting events,” said Dellinger. “Taking care of our local parks and green space aligns with Potomac Edison’s mission to make the environment better and our communities stronger.” 

In conjunction with the Streamlink tree donations and plantings, Potomac Edison and FirstEnergy hosted more than 30 additional tree-planting events this year with local organizations, schools and environmental groups, with more events planned in the fall.

Company volunteers also devote their time and resources to a wide variety of eco-friendly programs including electronics recycling events, creating pollinator gardens and beach cleanups.

For more information about FirstEnergy’s environmental and corporate responsibility efforts, visit www.fecorporateresponsibility.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Hannah Catlett, (440) 554-5346