Strategic planting of trees and shrubs can help customers reduce energy use & will benefit the environment

BOSTON and SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 1, 2024) – As part of its continued commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, Eversource is partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation to distribute more than 1,000 free trees and shrubs to customers across its three-state service territory through the nonprofit’s innovative Energy-Saving Trees program, including hundreds of plants in Massachusetts. This year, customers in Framingham and West Springfield will be eligible to reserve a complimentary tree or shrub on a first-come, first-serve basis and take advantage of the benefits they provide.

Through this initiative, customers will have access to an interactive platform that allows them to view their property and find the best location to plant their tree or shrub to help conserve energy, as well as calculate estimated environmental benefits and annual cost savings. Eligible customers can reserve one free tree or shrub per household through the online portal. The pilot program will continue until all plants are reserved, and distribution events will take place in each community in early May.

“The trees and shrubs planted through this program can help customers reduce their energy use and will also provide tangible community benefits from improving air quality to reducing stormwater runoff, beautifying neighborhoods and supporting biodiversity and pollinators,” said Eversource Vegetation Management Manager Christopher Gonzalez. “We’re proud to partner with the Arbor Day Foundation on this valuable effort which aligns with our mission of being responsible environmental stewards across the communities we serve as we work toward a more sustainable, equitable future for all.”

“It’s important to plant the right tree, in the right place, at the right time, and this program makes it easy for communities to do just that,” said Arbor Day Foundation Chief Executive Dan Lambe. “When properly placed, trees and shrubs planted for shade or windbreak can help a homeowner save up to 20% on their electric bill as they grow. Eversource has stepped up to make each community it serves a greener and healthier place to live, and we’re grateful for the impact the company is making across New England.”

As part of its commitment to environmental stewardship and electric reliability for customers, Eversource advances educational partnerships with arborists, municipalities, students, and the public about planting the right tree in the right place. For more information about Eversource’s nationally recognized sustainability efforts, please visit the dedicated page on its website.

About Eversource

Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is the #1 energy company in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2023 and recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies. Celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to 1.8 million customers throughout Massachusetts, including approximately 1.47 million electric customers in 140 communities, 639,000 gas customers in 117 communities, and 11,500 water customers in five communities. Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,900 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. Together with our partners, we have helped plant more than 500 million trees in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival. Through our members, partners and programs, the Arbor Day Foundation inspires people across the globe to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.