Consumers Energy Announces Tree Planting Grants

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Feb 21, 2012, 03:30 ET

JACKSON, Mich., Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy awarded more than $100,000 to 42 Michigan communities through its 2011 Community Tree Planting Grant Program.

The utility sponsors the program annually to encourage responsible tree planting and sustainable urban forests in communities across the state.

Each year, the Michigan Forest and Park Association reviews applications and forwards its grant recommendations to Consumers Energy.

A tree planting project must meet criteria to reduce conflicts between trees and overhead lines to be eligible for a grant. Consumers Energy provides prospective communities a guide titled "Right Tree Right Place," a concept developed by the National Arbor Day Foundation, which shows how to choose appropriate tree species and suitable sites in community locations near electric lines.

Once a project is approved and planting is completed, a Consumers Energy forester inspects it to verify the tree species and locations. A participating community may receive a grant check of up to $3,050.

The grants aided in the planting of almost 1,100 trees in 2011.

Community Tree Planting grants were awarded to:

Alabaster Township	$3,050
City of Alma	$3,000
City of Au Gres	$2,500
Village of Augusta	$3,000
Village of Bellaire	$3,000
Blair Township	$3,000
Village of Blissfield	$2,200
Village of Breckenridge	$3,000
Village of Caledonia	$3,000
Village of Cedar Springs	$1,800
City of Charlotte	$200
City of Cheboygan	$3000
City of Davison	$3,000
City of East Tawas	$3,000
Village of Elberta	$1,000
Village of Empire	$260
City of Frankenmuth	$2,250
City of Greenville	$1,200
Village of Hubbardston	$800
City of Hudson	$3,000
City of Jackson	$3,050
City of Kentwood	$2,860
Village of Kingsley	$700
Village of Lake Odessa	$3,000
Village of Lyons	$3,000
City of Mason	$2,700
City of Morenci	$3,000
Village of Muir	$3,000
Village of Nashville	$3,000
City of Omer	$2,600
City of Owosso	$3,000
Peninsula Township	$2,945
City of Potterville	$3,000
Village of Richland	$1,500
City of Roosevelt Park	$2,000
City of St. Johns	$2,000
Village of Sparta	$2,500
Village of Spring Lake	$3,000
Suttons Bay Township	$3,000
Village of Suttons Bay	$1,500
City of Tawas City	$3,000
City of Wyoming	$3,000

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information regarding Consumers Energy, access our website at: www.consumersenergy.com/forestry

SOURCE Consumers Energy