St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation recently made a gift of $15,000 to the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) to support research related to utility arboriculture. The TREE Fund is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge in urban forestry and arboriculture (the science of caring for trees in a landscape).
“Knowledge is the tool that every arborist reaches for every day, said TREE Fund President and CEO Janet Bornancin. “Research contributes to better strategies for vegetation management near utility sites, safer practices and equipment for utility arborists and improved methods for identifying potentially hazardous trees near power lines which may pose a fire risk. Ameren’s donation to the TREE Fund illustrates its commitment to the development of safer, more efficient and more effective practices for utility arboriculture.”
The TREE Fund manages a portfolio of research and education grant programs offering from $10,000 to $100,000 to qualified researchers working to improve the science, methods and equipment used by tree care professionals. Recent research investigations have focused on:
• Understanding how trees reduce air pollution and sequester carbon
• Identifying risk factors in mature trees
• Developing better tools and protocols for risk management
• Improving practices for propagation, planting and pruning of urban trees
• Quantifying the value of trees to urban environments
• Developing effective, environmentally sensitive strategies for managing pests and diseases.
“For years, we have been committed to helping educate customers about the need to plant ‘the right tree in the right place,’” said David Hunt, VP, Corporate Communications of Ameren. “This donation to TREE Fund helps sustain scientific research that supports the utility arboriculture industry. Ameren believes in the power of knowledge to help utilities keep our workers safe, our environment protected and our customers assured of reliable energy source. We’re proud to partner with the TREE Fund in support of the research.”
About Ameren
With assets of more than $23 billion, St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation owns a diverse mix of electric generating plants strategically located in our Midwest market, with a generating capacity of more than 15,900 megawatts. Through our Missouri and Illinois subsidiaries, we serve 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area. Our mission is to meet their energy needs in a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. For more information, visit Ameren.com.
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CONTACT: Mary DiCarlo, TREE Fund, 630.369.8300, marydicarlo@treefund.org