A $25,000 AmerenUE “Environmental Connections” grant to Forest ReLeaf of Missouri in 2009 helped provide a record total of 8,494 trees for 111 community planting projects. The UE grant helped sponsor Project CommuniTree—a community nursery that grows trees for planting on public property and on land owned by nonprofit organizations.
“UE has been a premier sponsor of Project CommuniTree since 2001, and we are pleased that it has benefited so many communities,” says Richard Mark, UE senior vice president, Customer Operations.
Originally located in Berkeley, Mo., the nursery moved to a new site in Creve Coeur Park in late 2006. In 2007, Forest ReLeaf worked with UE to develop a special tree trail along the perimeter of the new site to educate tree recipients and the public about 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.”
UE provides tree planting tips and other vegetation management information on the Ameren Web site. Go to www.ameren.com and click on “Environment.” Or call UE at 1-800-552-7583.
Nonprofit organizations, community groups and municipalities may apply for free trees from Forest ReLeaf on a first-come, first-served basis each spring and fall. In St. Louis, call 314-533-LEAF. Elsewhere, call, toll-free, 888-4-RELEAF. Or visit the Forest ReLeaf Web site: www.moreleaf.org.
AmerenUE, founded in 1902, provides electric and gas service to approximately 1.2 million customers across central and eastern Missouri, including the greater St. Louis area. UE serves 57 Missouri counties and 500 towns. The company's electric rates are among the lowest in the nation. For more information, visit www.ameren.com.
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Contact: Mike Cleary 573-681-7137