(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) Although it's wintertime in the Commonwealth, efforts to further beautify the state next spring have taken root as Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company accept grant applications for the companies' tree-planting program from Dec. 1 through Dec. 31.
Dubbed, "Plant for the Planet," the $75,000 matching-grant program targets successful tree planting programs organized by non-profit organizations and local government agencies throughout the LG&E and KU service territories. The program is modeled after the United Nations Environment Program's (UNEP) Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign.
Matching one-year grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 for urban, suburban or rural projects in forests and parks, along parkways or roadways are available by application. Groups with demonstrated tree planting success are eligible to download an application online at www.lge-ku.com/plantfortheplanet. Proposals must clearly state project objectives, anticipated results and how the project will improve the environment.
Plant for the Planet funds only support non-invasive tree species and all applicants must demonstrate that mature trees resulting from their efforts will not interfere with utility lines — consistent with LG&E and KU's "Right Tree in the Right Place" program. Grant recipients will be announced in February 2011.
"Since its inception last year, our program has helped plant more than 10,000 trees across Kentucky in a variety of urban, suburban and rural areas," said Laura Douglas, vice president of Corporate Responsibility and Community Affairs for LG&E and KU. "We're proud to continue to enable qualified organizations to further enhance the state's natural beauty and sustainability."
Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies, are regulated utilities that serve a total of 1.2 million customers and have consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. LG&E serves 321,000 natural gas and 397,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 543,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia. More information is available at www.lge-ku.com and www.pplweb.com.
