Title: Partnership Models Between Tree Organizations and Utility Companies

Summary: The utility sector is the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., where heating and cooling homes accounts for nearly 60 % of residential electricity usage. Trees reduce ground-level ozone and clean carbon dioxide levels while providing shade and cutting energy usage by up to 30%. Trees also cool cities by 10-20 degrees, helping cities to meet air quality standards for federal highway dollars. The Alliance for Community Trees (ACT) is a coalition of nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving cities through tree planting and care. This session delves into successful local partnerships involving both public and private entities and concludes with a review of current federal legislation and incentives for tree organization and utility company partnerships.

Jared Liu, BA, Alliance for Community Trees, n/a, College Park, MD, United States

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