For the 21st year, ComEd receives Tree Line USA award

CHICAGO (Mar. 8, 2022) – The Arbor Day Foundation, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees to help slow climate change, has named ComEd a 2022 Tree Line USA Award recipient for the proper care and maintenance of trees in its communities across northern Illinois. It is one of two utilities in Illinois to receive the designation.

"Trees are a valuable asset in our urban landscapes that help to reduce carbon emissions and provide cleaner air and water," said Michelle Blaise, ComEd senior vice president of technical services. "We're honored to be recognized for our work to protect trees while maintaining the safe and reliable electric service our customers depend on. The long-term benefits of proper tree care will ensure that generations to come can enjoy a better quality of life."

In 2021, ComEd donated trees to communities across northern Illinois to help revitalize areas affected by a devastating storm in August 2020. The summer derecho storm destroyed thousands of trees across northern Illinois, some of them decades old.

"Trees are essential to creating more urban green spaces in communities across the United States," said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "In addition, they provide important benefits to residents, including clean air, clean water, and vital tree shade. Service providers like ComEd demonstrate how easily trees and utilities can co-exist for the benefit of communities and residents."

This is the 21st year ComEd has been recognized. The Tree Line USA program recognizes best practices in public and private utility arboriculture, demonstrating how trees and utilities can co-exist for the benefit of communities and citizens. Since 2015, ComEd's Energy Saving Trees Program, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, has donated more than 28,000 trees to customers.

There are five core criteria to receive recognition as a Tree Line USA program, including quality tree care, annual worker training, tree planting and public education, tree-based energy conservation and Arbor Day celebrations.

ComEd's Exelon sister companies, Atlantic City Electric (ACE), Delmarva Power, PECO and Pepco are also Tree Line USA award recipients.