ATC awards $74,500 for community plantings

American Transmission Co. in 2013 launched a planting program to support tree and vegetation planting in communities in its service area. During the first year of the program 59 eligible municipalities and counties received financial support for planting projects on public property within their communities in the form of grants ranging from $250 to $5,000.

To qualify, recipients committed to complying with ATC’s maintenance standards for all current and future planting plans and urban forestry activities near high-voltage electric transmission lines. Priority favored projects that promote safety and reliability of the transmission system by supporting right-of-way best management practices and keeping trees out of the right-of-way.

Tree Planting Program funding recipients are noted in the ATC news release. ATC will accept applications for its 2014 Tree Planting Program June 1 through Sept. 30, 2014, and recipients will be selected by the end of 2014.

Additional information, including a program brochure and eligibility information, is available on the ATC website.