LIPA Recognized for Support of School Spruce Up & Wire Friendly Trees
Programs
Uniondale, NY-April 6, 2007-As Arbor Day approaches, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) is pleased to announce that for the ninth consecutive year it has received the distinguished Tree Line USA Award. The award recognizes public and private utilities across the nation utilizing tree-friendly practices that protect and enhance America’s
urban forests. LIPA was the first utility in New York State to receive this award.
The 2007 Tree Line USA Award is sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters. The award was presented at the annual Tree Line U.S.A. and Tree City U.S.A. recognition ceremony and workshop, in Albany on March 27th.
On Arbor Day, April 27, 2007, particular attention is drawn to the important part trees play in our lives and the environment.
“Trees are very important to our environment, and LIPA has a duty to advocate for trees that beautify Long Island but do not interfere with overhead electric lines,” said LIPA CEO/President Richard M. Kessel. “Planting a tree is of no benefit to our suburban environment if we neglect to care for it or plant it a location that would cause it to
interfere with power lines as it matures.
“I am very pleased that LIPA’s efforts to encourage smart tree planting practices and the use of wire friendly trees has been recognized nationally for nine consecutive years with yet another Tree Line USA Award,” said Mr. Kessel.
LIPA’s extensive line clearance program plays a major role in lowering the number of service interruptions experienced by customers during storms.
Every year, over 90% of all electric service interruptions result from tree or tree limb contact with overhead electric lines. LIPA spends over $14 million annually on its tree trim and Wire-Friendly Tree Program, which promotes the use of trees that will have a less adverse impact on Long Island’s electric wires, poles and other components.
Fallen trees can interfere with electric lines and cause serious problems or possibly power surges, fires, and injuries to people and damage to property. Serious injury or death can also result from children or adults climbing trees and contacting electric lines.
LIPA’s line clearance program trims tree branches away from electric lines, helps insure public safety, minimizes electrical interruptions and outages, and limits damage from severe storms. Most importantly it also provides a zone of safety in which line workers can do their jobs, especially during storm events when restoration work is done under hazardous conditions.
To learn more about LIPA’s Line Clearance Program visit LIPA’s Web site at www.lipower.org or receive a brochure on LIPA’s Forestry Program call 1-800-490-0075.
To learn more about the National Arbor Day Foundation, its Tree Line Award program, and how to properly plant and care for trees go to www.arborday.org.
LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric utility, owns the retail electric Transmission and Distribution System on Long Island and provides electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. LIPA is the 3rd largest municipal electric utility in the nation in terms of customers served and the 6th largest in terms of electricity delivered. In 2006, LIPA outperformed all other overhead electric utilities in New York State in all three major reliability categories. LIPA does not provide
natural gas service or own any on-island generating assets. More information about LIPA can be found online at: www.lipower.org.
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Miss Gabrielle Bernard, age 16, has been chosen as a State Finalist in the National Miss New York Pageant to be held August 13th at the beautiful Brooklyn Marriott in Brooklyn New York. The pageant is held for girls 16 through 18.
Families interested in learning more about this unique and outstanding youth program may visit 
Miss Bernard’s activities include:
Love’s Divide, an Un-Romantic Comedy, explores the trials and tribulations of love in all its forms: a simultaneous “Screw You” and “Thank You” to lovers past, present, and those yet to come.
BADFISH BIO:
On Thursday, March 22, CA and Microsoft partnered to host the first annual DigiGirlz Day event. Our guests included 100 11th grade high school girls from several Long Island schools. DigiGirlz is an interactive program that offers insight and educational background about the vast career opportunities available for females in the high-tech industry.
