Charleston downs palmetto trees near power lines, promises to plant 5 for each 1

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) — The City of Charleston and Dominion Energy have begun eradicating practically 200 palmetto trees near power traces, with town committing to plant 5 new trees for each one eliminated.

Dominion crews began the removals within the Eastside neighborhood as a part of a partnership known as “Right Tree, Right Place.”

The initiative targets palmetto trees particularly as a result of they can’t be lower or pruned. Once they attain 15 toes, they’ll pose a hazard to electrical traces, in accordance to metropolis officers.

(*5*)City commits to increasing tree cover

For each palmetto eliminated, Charleston stated it’ll plant 5 new trees elsewhere within the metropolis. The aim is to cut back danger whereas rising town’s total tree cover.

“Our urban forestry team works hand-in-hand to figure out, ‘is pruning appropriate or is there a removal measure that might need to be taken?’” Mika Gadsden, the City of Charleston’s director of sustainability, stated. (*1*)

Gadsden stated the partnership reveals town doesn’t have to sacrifice one precedence for one other.

“We are fortunate enough to have an amazing Urban Forestry Team that helps us guide those decisions and work hand-in-hand with our residents, whether that be individual homeowners or neighborhood associations,” Gadsden stated. “Dominion has been a strategic partner in helping us plant the right tree in the right place.”

(*5*)Trees thought-about main reason behind outages

According to Dominion Energy spokesperson Paul Fischer, trees are the primary reason behind power outages throughout the system.

The removals come as South Carolina enters Hurricane Preparedness Month in May. City and Dominion officers stated the initiative is about getting forward of the following storm and persevering with to work on sustainability within the space.