ST. LOUIS, Feb. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In 2006, AmerenUE provided a record total of 6,026 free trees for 54 community planting projects. The trees were made available through a $25,000 AmerenUE "Environmental Connections" grant to Forest ReLeaf of Missouri to help sponsor Project CommuniTree -- a nursery operation that grows trees for planting on public property and on land owned by nonprofit organizations.
"AmerenUE has been a major sponsor of Project CommuniTree since 2002, and we are pleased that it has benefited so many communities," says Richard Mark, AmerenUE senior vice president, Energy Delivery.
Originally located in Berkeley, Mo., the nursery moved to a new site in Creve Coeur Park in late 2006. Mark says that in 2007, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri will be working with AmerenUE to develop a special tree garden around the perimeter of the new site to educate tree recipients and the public on how to plant "the right tree in the right place" to prevent trees from interfering with power lines as they grow.
"Most power outages are caused by trees or tree limbs blowing into power lines when a severe storm occurs," Mark says. "With a little careful planning when you select a tree and choose where to plant it, you can help prevent that tree from causing a problem with your electric service in the future."
AmerenUE provides tree planting tips and other vegetation management information on the Ameren Web site. Go to http://www.ameren.com/ and click on "Environment." Or call AmerenUE at 1-800-552-7583.
Non-profit organizations, community groups and municipalities may apply for free trees from Forest ReLeaf on a first-come, first-served basis. In St. Louis, call 314-533-LEAF. Elsewhere, call toll-free 888-4-RELEAF. Or visit the Forest ReLeaf Web site: http://www.moreleaf.org/ .
AmerenUE is a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation. The Ameren companies serve 2.4 million electric customers and nearly one million natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area of Missouri and Illinois.
Forest ReLeaf of Missouri
Project CommuniTree Recipients
Fall 2006
Funded by AmerenUE
Bellerive Subdivision; St. Louis, MO 10
Replanting following honeysuckle removal
Beth Haven Retirement Community; Hannibal, MO 15
Planting for erosion control and shade
Bonebrake Center of Nature and History; Salem, MO 18
Educational and beautification planting
City of Boonville, MO 34
Replacement planting for hazard trees that were removed
City of Carl Junction, MO 20
Replacement of trees damaged by 2003 tornado
City of Caruthersville, MO 40
Replacement of trees lost in tornado
Caseyville Gardeners; Caseyville, IL 46
Beautification planting for city hall, library and school
City of Cassville, MO 60
Planting to enhance wildlife benefits and increase shade
Chaminade College Preparatory School; St. Louis, MO 20
Shade tree planting on campus
City of Chester, IL 45
City beautification and tree replacement
Chesterfield Elementary School; Chesterfield, MO 8
Shade tree planting at school
Clay County Regional Airport; Kearney, MO 768
Large-scale reforestation planting following new construction
Cold Water Elementary School; Florissant, MO 15
Schoolyard replacement trees
Coulterville Unit School District 1; Coulterville, IL 16
Educational planting in schoolyard
Countryside Hill Subdivision; St. Louis, MO 25
Forest restoration following honeysuckle removal
Crescent Valley Subdivision; Valley Park, MO 28
Reestablish riparian corridor
City of Fenton, MO 80
Park beautification
Forest Park Forever; St. Louis, MO 257
Reforestation planting
Fort Zumwalt West High School; O'Fallon, MO 69
Outdoor classroom planting
City of Fulton, MO 52
Shade tree planting for municipal golf course
Geggie Elementary School; Eureka, MO 12
Outdoor classroom planting
General Federation of Women's Club; Plattsburg, MO 23
Tree planting at historical cemetery
City of Hayti, MO 81
Park shade and beautification planting
City of Hazelwood, MO 95
Replacement of trees lost during sewer project
City of Independence, MO 202
Reforestation of walking trail
City of LaGrange, MO 36
Wildlife habitat and erosion control
City of Lenexa, KS 281
Park beautification and shade
Lions Club of Ferguson; Ferguson, MO 5
Replacement of memorial trees
City of Marshfield, MO 535
Citywide beautification, shade and wildlife plantings
Mason Valley Woods Estates; Town and Country, MO 40
Erosion control and replacement following honeysuckle removal
City of Monroe City, MO 36
Planting to buffer residential area from industrial park
Ostmann Elementary School; O'Fallon, MO 30
School beautification planting
City of Parkville, MO 6
Shade tree and beautification along new trail
City Perryville, MO 52
Replacement of older and removed trees
Platte County Parks and Recreation 25
Shade tree planting for bike trail
Pond Athletic Association; Wildwood, MO 44
Replacement of older trees
City of Potosi, MO 603
Beautification and replacement of storm damaged trees
Roaring River State Park; Cassville, MO 158
Tree planting in campground and picnic areas
St. Ann of Normandy Catholic Church; Normandy, MO 2
Boundary planting around cemetery
St. Charles County Parks and Recreation 1,045
Plantings for riparian buffers, education and reforestation
St. Clair County Greenspace Foundation; Belleville, IL 12
Reforestation planting
City of St. Clair, MO 70
Shade and park tree planting
St. Joseph Parish; St. Charles, MO 143
Landscaping and shade tree planting
Shackelford Commons Subdivision; Florissant, MO 15
Planting to screen ball fields from residential area
Stone Ridge Estates; St. Peters, MO 19
Shade, beautification and rainwater control planting
Sunrise United Methodist Church; O'Fallon, MO 19
Erosion control and shade tree planting
City of Sunset Hills, MO 230
Park reforestation
City of University City, MO 40
Park tree plantings
Villas at Highgrove; O'Fallon, MO 80
Wildlife and beautification planting
City of Washington, MO 32
Park tree planting
Waynesville R-VI School District; Waynesville, MO 60
Native tree planting for education
City of Webb City, MO 84
Park trees for shade and wildlife
Winterset Park Community Association; Lee's Summit, MO 270
Reforestation and windbreaks along walking trails
Wyman Inc. Conservation Club; Eureka, MO 15
Educational planting for youth
Total 6,026
SOURCE: AmerenUE
CONTACT: Mike Cleary of AmerenUE, +1-573-681-7137, mcleary@ameren.com ,
or Nancy von Brecht of Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, +1-314-533-5323,
nancy@moreleaf.org