That’s why, since fall 2018, ���ϳԹ��� has provided free trees to customers through the . Since then, 2,700 trees have been delivered directly to customers’ homes with instructions for determining the best place to plant for energy-saving benefits.

The free tree program provides an interactive website where customers can virtually place their trees on their properties for guidance on where to plant to optimize benefits.

Customers who participated and responded to a follow-up survey gave the program a net promoter score of 78. Net promoter scores indicate how likely on a scale of 100 a person would be to recommend a product or service to others. When asked why they would recommend this program, answers included:

“Who doesn’t like free trees? And the fact you ship them AND you tell me where to plant them? Awesome!”

“I’m glad the company cares about customers and helping them save on energy for their home.”

“The tree that came to our house is awesome and doing great. It will offer us a great shaded area and many years of beauty.”

The program also helps customers plant trees in areas that won’t interfere with the company’s overhead lines or other equipment. This helps improve safety and service reliability for customers.

While customers benefit, so do communities and the environment. Powered by and the company’s vegetation management organization, the tree giveaway has resulted in more than 12 million pounds of carbon avoided or sequestered, 27,000 pounds of other air pollutants absorbed, and 50 million gallons of stormwater filtered. For Entergy’s investment of approximately $100,000, the combined energy savings and community benefits exceed $1.1 million.

“As you can see, the positive impact of tree-planting is significant for our customers, communities and the environment,” said Kelli Dowell, Entergy’s director of environmental policy who manages the fund. “These benefits are a good example of how the work we do on behalf of one of our stakeholders, like customers, often has additional benefits for others. This program also demonstrates the triple bottom line of sustainability: environmental, social and financial.”

“Partnering with utilities and other companies to encourage tree-planting and care is an effective way to help protect the environment and reduce the impacts of climate change,” said Kristen Bousquet, the Arbor Day Foundation’s program manager. “Trees help enhance and sustain our urban environments by providing shade, improving the air we breathe and supporting water and soil management.”

Customers can watch for new opportunities to reserve free trees from Entergy in 2020.

Related Articles:

• Entergy Customers Claim Free ���ϳԹ���-Saving Trees
• Entergy Harnesses the Power of Trees

Helping ensure clean air, water and other natural resources is a key action ���ϳԹ��� takes to fulfill its mission of adding sustainable value to our communities. Through Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund, $800,000 in shareholder contributions is available annually to implement ideas for environmental projects and programs that help improve local communities.

Got a great green idea? Submit your proposal for funding consideration in 2019 through the link provided in the Request for Proposals available here. All proposals must be received by midnight Central time, April 12, 2019.

“Protecting our natural resources is a fundamental responsibility we all share,” said Chuck Barlow, Entergy’s vice president of sustainability and environmental policy. “A healthy environment is the foundation for economic prosperity and quality of life. The Environmental Initiatives Fund fuels innovation and encourages community partnerships that help make our world a better place to live and work.”

Your project’s value will be determined based on:

• Potential to create environmental benefits
• Location (projects within the utility service area or near non-utility company operations such as Entergy Wholesale Commodities plant sites are given preference)
• Project quality
• Developer standing, reputation, and co-party risk
• Likelihood that a project would not move forward without EIF funding
• Marketing and public relations opportunities
• Project specific terms and conditions
• Uniqueness, innovative quality or opportunity to expand into self-funding projects

The company’s sustainability and environmental policy team manages the fund, evaluates project proposals, solicits approval from company leaders and awards funding to the best ideas.

Since 2001, EIF has supported wetlands restoration in Louisiana, reforestation in Mississippi and Texas, waterway and wildlife conservation in Arkansas, and a host of volunteer opportunities and other projects you can learn about here.

For more information, email EIF@entergy.com.

In the of U.S. power plant emissions from the 100 largest electric power producers, Entergy is the sixth-largest producer of electricity and ranks fifth in the production of zero-emitting energy. Entergy’s CO₂ emission rate is the fourth lowest among the top 20 privately-owned and investor-owned power producers.   

The analysis, based on 2016 data, shows that a significant shift in market dynamics has happened, resulting in 22 percent lower CO₂ emissions nationwide than a decade ago, even as the U.S. economy has steadily grown.

Entergy’s commitment to reducing emissions from its power plants is helping drive this reduction in the nation’s emissions.��

“In 2001, Entergy was the first U.S. electric utility to commit voluntarily to reducing CO₂ emissions,” said Chuck Barlow, Entergy’s vice president of environmental strategy and policy. “While our annual electric generation has increased by 18 percent since 2000, our investments in clean energy through 2017 have resulted over the same period in a 70 percent reduction in NOx emissions, a 62 percent reduction in SO₂ emissions, a 91 percent reduction in mercury emissions and a 32 percent reduction in CO₂ �𳾾��������DzԲ�.”

Learn more about Entergy’s portfolio transformation, energy efficiency initiatives and other actions contributing to lower emissions in our .

The nationwide data is presented in the 14th edition of , a report that , and partners like Entergy have released since 1997. The report is based on publicly reported generation and emissions data from the U.S. ���ϳԹ��� Information Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. For the first time, the report’s power plant data has also been compiled into an and online .

The 2016 data reveals that nationwide:

• From 2006 to 2016, coal’s use in electric power production has dropped from 49 percent to 30 percent.
• From 2006 to 2016 natural gas’s use in electric power production has increased from 20 to 34 percent.
• In 2016 5 percent of electric power production came from renewable sources like wind, solar and hydropower–a figure which rose to 17.1% in 2017 and is expected to continue to rise as the cost of renewables continues to decline.

Also in the report:

• Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions in the U.S. were 91 percent and 82 percent lower, respectively, than they were in 1990 when Congress passed major amendments to the Clean Air Act.
• Carbon dioxide emissions from U.S. power plants now measure just one percent higher than 1990 levels and fell 24 percent from 2005 through 2016.
• Mercury emissions from power plants have decreased 86 percent from 2000 levels.

“It is encouraging to see the progress that U.S. power companies are making in accelerating the transition to the clean energy economy, especially given the increased role that the sector will need to play to achieve our longer-range decarbonization goals,” said Dan Bakal, director of electric power at Ceres.

Public and private companies with U.S. operations and revenues of $1 billion or more are selected for the honor based on four dimensions of community engagement:

• Investment
• Integration
• Institutionalization
• Impact

Entergy was ranked number one in integration, which measures how closely a company ties community stewardship to the success of its business objectives.

“The sustainability of Entergy relies on thriving local economies and support from community stakeholders,” said Leo Denault, Entergy’s chairman and CEO. “We’re pleased to be noted among other companies who consider corporate citizenship a top business priority.”

Entergy commits approximately $17 million annually to community improvement programs. Employees contribute more than 104,000 volunteer hours. Learn more about how Entergy powers life in its communities in the company’s .

 “The Civic 50 truly highlights the commitment of community and civic engagement of America’s leading brands,” said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO, Points of Light. “Points of Light believes that people drive change in addressing society’s growing and most profound challenges. The business community plays an important role in creating and delivering innovative solutions that drive social good in the communities where they live and work.”

The Civic 50 survey is administered by and is the only survey and ranking system that exclusively measures corporate involvement in communities. Winners were announced at Points of Light’s annual conference on volunteering and service in Atlanta, where leaders from across sectors gathered to discuss social innovation, civic engagement and cross-sector collaboration.

“Entergy is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of New Orleanians in many ways, including protecting our natural resources,’’ said Charles Rice, President and CEO of Entergy New Orleans, LLC. “That is why we are proud to sponsor Earth Fest at Audubon Zoo, an annual event that offers a fun way for families to get outside together and learn more and celebrate the natural wonders of the planet we all share.’’

Watch a quick video about Earth Fest .

Families can compete in the “Jeans for Giraffes” conservation initiative for an opportunity to meet and greet Audubon’s giraffe herd. The Green Project is sponsoring a paint recycling program and the Krewe des Fleurs, a New Orleans-based costume collaborative dedicated to a more sustainable carnival culture, will appear. Visitors will also be among the first to visit Audubon Zoo’s expanded Jaguar Jungle.

Learn more about activities to enjoy at Earth Fest .

Entergy’s sponsorship is provided by shareholders through the Environmental Initiatives Fund. Entergy invests approximately $1 million annually in innovative projects with local partners that help protect our environment by reducing emissions, restoring wetlands and forests and educating stakeholders on the value of our natural resources, among other improvements.

Earth Fest Presented by Entergy is included with Audubon Nature Institute membership or Zoo admission.

Entergy pedal-pushers in New Orleans helped raise more than $21,000 for the during pedicab races March 11. Entergy also was a sponsor of the three-day festival on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard that included local music, entertainment, food trucks, and awards and prizes. YEP Fest is an annual fundraiser that helps the organization address the needs of vulnerable youth by providing free educational, mentoring, employment readiness and enrichment programming.��

“Helping improve education and career outcomes for vulnerable children and young adults is one way that Entergy powers life in our communities,” said Entergy’s Vice President of Ethics and Compliance Kenneth Polite, who organized Entergy’s pedicab team. “We admire the work being done by YEP and had a great time at YEP Fest supporting a worthy cause.”

Entergy employees Marquest Meeks (pedaling),  Emily Marcotte Barilleau and Raechelle Munna competed in YEP Fest in New Orleans, benefitting the Youth Empowerment Project.

Dreams of a better environment can come true. Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund makes $1 million in shareholder contributions available annually to implement ideas for environmental improvements in local communities.

Proposals for projects to be granted a share of the funds in 2018 should be submitted online through the link provided in the Request for Proposals available here. All proposals must be received by midnight Central time, Mar. 31, 2018.

 “Entergy is committed to protecting our environment – in big ways and small,” said Chuck Barlow, Entergy’s vice president of environmental strategy & policy. “Improvement projects we help implement in our local communities through the Environmental Initiatives Fund strengthen our relationships, provide opportunities for volunteerism and deliver the value of a brighter future to our customers, owners, employees and communities.”

To qualify for funding, your proposal should:

• Lower water usage or prevent or reduce waste
• Encourage recycling
• Promote energy efficiency
• Lower emissions or reduce climate change impacts
• Decrease fuel consumption or increase efficiency
• Reduce water effluents or improve water quality
• Provide for registered greenhouse gas offsets
• Promote environmental justice educational opportunities

Other concepts which add environmental value to Entergy and its stakeholders may also be proposed.

The company’s environmental strategy & policy team manages the fund, evaluates project proposals, solicits approval from company leaders and awards funding to the best ideas.

Since 2001, EIF has supported wetlands restoration in Louisiana, reforestation in Mississippi and Texas, waterway and wildlife conservation in Arkansas, and a host of volunteer opportunities and other projects you can learn about here.��

For more information , email EIF@entergy.com.