GCNH Positions on Trees and Power
1. The Garden Club of New Haven supports a balanced approach to securing electric power reliability by removing hazardous trees and branches that pose a risk to the electric utility infrastructure and retaining healthy non-hazardous tall and tall-growing trees. When trees must be removed, the stumps should be ground or removed and the trees should be replaced with “right tree/right place” trees.
2. The Garden Club of New Haven supports data collection prior to and after major storms to determine the extent to which apparently healthy trees cause power outages, what caused each such tree to fail, how long the power outages caused lasted, and how the failure could have been predicted prior to the storm.
3. The Garden Club of New Haven supports undergrounding of distribution wires where feasible as a long term solution, for which planning should begin.
2. The Garden Club of New Haven supports data collection prior to and after major storms to determine the extent to which apparently healthy trees cause power outages, what caused each such tree to fail, how long the power outages caused lasted, and how the failure could have been predicted prior to the storm.
3. The Garden Club of New Haven supports undergrounding of distribution wires where feasible as a long term solution, for which planning should begin.
Site Directory:
The Benefits of Street Trees
Utility Tree Pruning and Removal
Undergrounding of Electric Distribution Wires
Utility Tree Pruning and Removal
Undergrounding of Electric Distribution Wires
Background on the Garden Club of New Haven involvement in this issue:
In late 2011, the Garden Club of New Haven became concerned that wholesale removal of street and roadside trees would be adopted by electric distribution companies as a response to the loss of power during major storms. Since then, the Garden Club has been actively involved in helping to achieve an appropriate balance between the need for power reliability and the retention of the many benefits of street and roadside trees. Plans to remove or aggressively prune healthy, non-hazardous trees ignore the absence of data as to the condition of the trees that fell during the storms and the numerous well-documented benefits of street and roadside trees: aesthetic, economic, environmental, health and societal. The Garden Club made recommendations to the Two Storms Panel, observed and participated in the deliberations of the State Vegetation Management Task Force, participated in Public Utilities Regulatory Authority proceedings on "tree trimming" and was involved in the efforts that led to passage of two public acts, adopted in 2013, and 2014, that govern utility tree pruning and removal (with minor amendments adopted in 2016). It continues to work with other groups to ensure compliance with these laws by the electric distribution companies. It has held or participated in meetings throughout the state for garden club members, municipal officials (including tree wardens) and members of the general public. In furtherance of its positions, it participates in relevant PURA and legislative proceedings, and in the work of the Governor's Council on Climate Change GC3. (For records of GCNH work that is now only of historical interest, please see Historical Records. They are in the process of being reorganized and edited.)
In late 2011, the Garden Club of New Haven became concerned that wholesale removal of street and roadside trees would be adopted by electric distribution companies as a response to the loss of power during major storms. Since then, the Garden Club has been actively involved in helping to achieve an appropriate balance between the need for power reliability and the retention of the many benefits of street and roadside trees. Plans to remove or aggressively prune healthy, non-hazardous trees ignore the absence of data as to the condition of the trees that fell during the storms and the numerous well-documented benefits of street and roadside trees: aesthetic, economic, environmental, health and societal. The Garden Club made recommendations to the Two Storms Panel, observed and participated in the deliberations of the State Vegetation Management Task Force, participated in Public Utilities Regulatory Authority proceedings on "tree trimming" and was involved in the efforts that led to passage of two public acts, adopted in 2013, and 2014, that govern utility tree pruning and removal (with minor amendments adopted in 2016). It continues to work with other groups to ensure compliance with these laws by the electric distribution companies. It has held or participated in meetings throughout the state for garden club members, municipal officials (including tree wardens) and members of the general public. In furtherance of its positions, it participates in relevant PURA and legislative proceedings, and in the work of the Governor's Council on Climate Change GC3. (For records of GCNH work that is now only of historical interest, please see Historical Records. They are in the process of being reorganized and edited.)
To ask questions or share information regarding trees and power issues, contact GCNHtreesandpower@gmail.com