We have to write to these companies and have these awards taken back. They AREN'T caring for trees and they AREN'T putting money where it's needed - reparations.
Con Edison Media Relations
For Immediate Release: March 4, 2009
10:30 a.m.
CON EDISON TREE CARE BLOOMS WITH NATIONAL AWARD
Arbor Day Foundation Names Company “Tree Line USA Utility”
National Award Recognizes Tree Care, Planting and Public Education Efforts
NEW YORK – Con Edison has been named a “Tree Line USA Utility” for the first time by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters in recognition of its ongoing tree trimming efforts to improve electric reliability. The award spotlights the company’s care and maintenance for trees within New York City and Westchester County along with its commitment to public education programs, all while meeting service objectives.
"We are delighted to receive this recognition. It signifies our continuing commitment to promoting, protecting and enhancing our urban forests," said Louis L. Rana, president of Con Edison. "Regular maintenance and natural pruning of trees improves electric reliability, and the trees in our service area will be with us to beautify our neighborhoods for years to come.”
Con Edison trims trees along distribution and transmission power lines to maintain safe and reliable service. Overgrown and fallen tree limbs are the leading cause of power outages during storms. The company’s tree maintenance program helps ensure safe, reliable service, carefully trimming branches that may interfere with power lines.
The company also reinforces its dedication to preserving community trees though public education efforts, which advise customers on which plant species are appropriate to plant near utility lines.
“Across America, people are recognizing and celebrating how vital trees are to our cities and towns,” said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees help reduce peak demand by conserving energy. They also clean air and water, increase property value, and make our homes more comfortable, livable places.”
Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $33 billion in assets. The utility provides electric, gas and steam service to more than 3 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York. For additional financial, operations and customer service information, visit Con Edison’s Web site at www.conEd.com.
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Con Edison Media Relations
For Immediate Release: November 23, 2009
1:33 p.m.
CON EDISON SALUTED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO WESTCHESTER
NEW YORK – The Association of Development Officers (ADO) has recognized Con Edison with its 2009 award for “Outstanding Corporate Philanthropy” in Westchester County.
ADO cited the diverse organizations the company supports and the utility’s role in “contributing to and maintaining the social, cultural and economic vitality in their service area.”
“The passion and commitment to improve the human condition is our common strength,” said the ADO’s Philanthropy Day Chair Linda Karesh. “It is fitting that we pay tribute to that strength now, as exemplified by the outstanding organizations and individuals that have been selected to be honored this year.”
Con Edison’s nominators included ArtsWestchester, the American Red Cross in Westchester County, the Business Council of Westchester, the Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation, the College of New Rochelle, Friends of Rye Nature Center, Greenburgh Nature Center, Grassroots Environmental Education, Historic Hudson Valley, Hudson River Museum, Jewish Council of Yonkers, the Jay Heritage Center, the Newspaper in Education/Lend a Hand Foundation (of the Journal News), Scenic Hudson Inc., the Sheldrake Environmental Center, Teatown Lake Reservation, Westchester Community College, Westchester Community Opportunity Programs, the YWCA of White Plains and Central Westchester, Westchester Community Partners and the Westchester Library System.
“Today,” noted Con Edison Senior Vice President for Public Affairs Frances Resheske, while accepting the award, “we are partners with more than 145 Westchester organizations — large and small, established and emerging.
“We call our corporate philanthropy program ‘Strategic Partnerships,’ and our approach is simple: We work in collaboration with community partners to identify needs, and then assist in creating and funding programs that fulfill them.”
An enduring example is one of Con Edison’s first philanthropic efforts in the county, the establishment of the Westchester Scholastic Sports Award. Now in its 59th year, it has resulted in the presentation of more than $750,000 in scholarships to more than 2,200 students, representing virtually every high school and community in Westchester. It is among the longest running corporate-sponsored scholar-athlete programs in the nation.
Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $34 billion in assets. The utility provides electric, gas and steam service to more than 3 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York. For additional financial, operations and customer service information, visit Con Edison’s Web site at www.conEd.com.
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Perhaps, Con Edison needs to re-examine its priorities.
ReplyDeleteTo be a "steward of the environment" does not mean that you can "buy your way" through philantropic contributions to enviromental and nature organizations. Con Edison should instead consider using such money to repair the environmental damage that they have done to communities all over Westchester. Think of all the damage that has been done to residents in the affected communities---how both their property values and quality of life have declined. Let's not forget issues such as the resultant flooding and erosion. If nothing is done to stop them, the damage will continue.
While we all agree that safety and reliability of electric lines is important, those of us close to the issues know well that Con Edison has gone way beyond what is necessary to maintain safety and reliability. Con Edison's overly-aggressive tree removal/vegetation management programs have resulted in the destruction of numerous non-threatening trees and other non-threatening vegetation---both on the transmission lines and distribution lines---all over Westchester County. The reality of the matter is that Con Edison is doing what is cheapest for them at the expense of the residents in the affected communities.
Once the trees are gone, they are gone. What happened to tree trimming?
Con Edison's replanting and restoration efforts are pitiful.
The PSC is definitley part of the problem. They have shown over and over again that they have little concern for the environment or the residents in the affected communities. They do not provide adequate oversight of Con Edison and its vegetation management programs. Our elected officials need to conduct investigative hearings at the county and state levels to investigate both Con Edison and the PSC in these environmentally related matters.
Please contact your local, county, and state officials in order to request that stop work orders be obtained and issued against Con Edison's vegetation management programs and that investigative hearings take place.
Excellent comment. I too wrote letters to the Arbor Day Fundation, National Assocoation of State Foresters as well as keeping the pressure on our local government officals.
ReplyDeleteHeart Broken in Hartsdale