Batesville-area employees from Entergy Arkansas visited West Elementary School this week, where they spent the morning with around 100 second grade students.

The goal for the visit is to help educate the next generation about the importance of trees and the important role they play for the environment, animals and humans.

“We teach them about tree biology, photosynthesis and the different types of trees, but that is just the beginning,” said Chris Millay, vegetation operations coordinator for Entergy Arkansas. “Members of our team also provide demonstrations and hands-on learning experiences for the students throughout the morning.”

Activities included watching tree contractors climb a tree and work with a bucket truck alongside a discussion about tree trimming. Local line workers talked to the students about power line safety. The Batesville-area supervisor, who is also a local beekeeper, showed the kids the relationship between bees and trees. Volunteers from the engineering and customer service groups also helped with the event.

The final activity of the morning was a tree planting on the West Elementary School campus. The students chose to plant three ornamental trees that will bloom in the spring for all to enjoy: a dogwood, forest pansy redbud and a Yoshino cherry tree.

“The tree planting exercise gives us the opportunity to teach and show them the correct way to plant a tree,” says Millay. “We also tell them where trees should and shouldn’t be planted. Hopefully this helps prevent future trees being planted near the Right of Ways.”

The Batesville crew also provided coloring activities for the students to take home from school.

Teachers say the students will remember the fun morning for a long time.

“They love seeing all the equipment and learning about the big trucks and power lines they see around town,” said Kay Treadway, second grade teacher at West Elementary School. “We hope this will be a catalyst that motivates them to do other things to take good care of the earth.”

The Arbor Day event is part of Entergy’s commitment to maintaining Tree Line USA certification, which holds the company to high standards of best practices for public and private utility arboriculture. The company has been recognized with this certification for the last 19 straight years.

�ճ������recognizes electric utilities for implementing best practices that protect and develop America’s urban tree canopy. The program is a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters, which promotes delivering safe and reliable electricity while maintaining healthy community forests.

“Trees and vegetation are part of our region’s natural environment and also one of the leading causes of power outages for utilities,” said Charles Long, interim senior vice president of power delivery. “Entergy has a robust vegetation management program that protects the power lines and ensures reliable electric service for our customers’ homes and businesses. At the same time, we’re helping sustain both our urban and rural landscapes, which improves quality of life for our customers and communities.”

Entergy achieved the Tree Line USA recognition by meeting five program standards: quality tree care, annual worker training, tree planting and public education, a tree-based energy conservation program, and a sponsorship of or participation in annual Arbor Day events.

“Trees are essential to creating more urban green spaces in communities across the United States,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “In addition, they provide important benefits to residents, including clean air, clean water, and vital tree shade. Service providers like Entergy demonstrate how easily trees and utilities can co-exist for the benefit of communities and residents.”

By joining the Tree Line USA program, energy service providers benefit from lowering line clearance costs due to proper pruning. As a result of those properly pruned and maintained trees, customers and communities benefit from increased reliability of service because those trees will have healthy root systems that decay less, have less structural weakness, and ultimately result in fewer downed lines during storms.

For more information about Entergy’s tree management practices,��visit Entergy’s website.

Not only that, trees can help you save money. When planted properly, a single tree can save a homeowner up to 20% on energy costs.

For the past several years, Entergy has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to give customers free trees as part of the . The program focuses on homeowner education and environmental impact.

By entering a planting address, the program tool also calculates where homeowners can strategically plant trees for the greatest energy- and money-saving benefits.

Since Entergy launched its program in 2018, approximately 8,700 customers have received free trees to plant at home.

The program also benefits the community and the environment overall. Neighborhood trees have shown the ability to reduce stress, improve overall health and development in children, and encourage physical activity. And trees are a proven, affordable, natural way to quickly pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Powered by Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund, the tree giveaway is projected to avoid or capture more than 94.5 million pounds of carbon, absorb nearly 272,000 pounds of other air pollutants and filter nearly 425 million gallons of stormwater over the next 20 years.

Customers agree: free, energy-saving trees are good for everyone:

• “More people should know about it. It’s free and lowers energy bill.”
• “It was fun to learn about placement of the tree. Planting trees is a good thing, and y’all made it crazy easy. It was a no brainer for me.”
• “Was easy to get a tree. Good for people who lost trees in storms and won’t be able to afford replacing them.”
• “The trees are so pretty and definitely cut down on the electric bills we have from the high heat in the summer.”
• “The tree sent is beautiful and healthy and will save us money in the future.”

Entergy customers can follow us on social media for their next opportunity to claim a free tree, which will launch on National Arbor Day – April 28!

The recognizes electric utilities for implementing best practices that protect and develop America’s urban tree canopy. The program is a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters, which promotes delivering safe and reliable electricity while maintaining healthy community forests.

“Trees and vegetation are part of our region’s natural environment and also one of the leading causes of power outages for utilities,” said Rick Riley, senior vice president of distribution operations and asset management. “Entergy has a robust vegetation management program that protects the lines that deliver power to customers’ homes and businesses and ensures reliable electric service. At the same time, we are helping sustain both our urban and rural landscapes, which improves quality of life in our communities.”

Entergy achieved the Tree Line USA recognition by meeting five program standards: quality tree care, annual worker training, tree planting and public education, a formal tree-based energy conservation, and a sponsorship of or participation in annual Arbor Day events.

“Trees are essential to creating more urban green spaces in communities across the United States,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “In addition, they provide important benefits to residents, including clean air, clean water, and vital tree shade. Service providers like Entergy demonstrate how easily trees and utilities can co-exist for the benefit of communities and residents.”

By joining the Tree Line USA program, energy service providers benefit from lowering line clearance costs due to proper pruning. As a result of those properly pruned and maintained trees, customers and communities benefit from increased reliability of service because those trees will have healthy root systems that decay less, have less structural weakness, and ultimately result in fewer downed lines during storms.

For more information about Entergy’s tree care practices, visit Entergy’s website.

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – ���ϳԹ���’s shareholders are helping protect the environment by contributing more than $1 million to 14 partnering organizations through the company’s Environmental Initiatives Fund, including three programs funded in the Entergy Arkansas service area. These grants mark the 21st consecutive year that Entergy has earmarked funds at this scale to support the work of these important local drivers of needed environmental progress.

“Entergy is proud to partner with our communities to help reduce environmental risk and seize opportunities for everyone’s benefit,” said John Weiss, vice president of sustainability and environmental policy at Entergy. “Through these strategic environmental partnerships, we are supporting all of our stakeholders as we work together to build stronger and cleaner communities. These environmental projects help support Entergy’s vision to create long-term, sustainable value that benefits all our stakeholders.”

Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund identifies environmentally beneficial projects or programs that help better the environment by reducing emissions, protecting natural resources and restoring wetlands and forests. The fund also focuses on educating Entergy customers, employees, communities and owners on the value of natural resources and other environmental improvements.

Environmental Initiative Fund recipients in Arkansas this year include:

• , which received $160,000 for the installation of 10 electric vehicle charging stations that are free of charge to the user and installed in high-profile locations in Arkansas.
• Arbor Day Foundation, which received $100,000 for its free tree giveaway program that helps Entergy customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas strategically plant a tree near their homes for environmental and energy-savings benefits.
• Xerox Print Relief , which will receive more than 5,200 trees to plant in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas as part of its Reforestation Certification program, for which Entergy provides one tree for every 8,200 pages printed.

Since 2001, more than $40 million of Entergy shareholder contributions have been invested in environmentally beneficial projects and programs through the Environmental Initiatives Fund. View the complete list of 2021 EIF grant recipients .

The EIF also contributes to Entergy’s leadership role as an advocate for and contributor to solutions to our most critical environmental challenges, consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The UNSDGs were established in 2015 as a “shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.”

Learn how Entergy’s operations contribute to the achievement of these global goals here.

ABOUT ENTERGY ARKANSAS

Entergy Arkansas provides electricity to approximately 722,000 customers in 63 counties. Entergy Arkansas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ��� (NYSE: ETR), an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy delivers electricity to three million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of $10 billion and approximately 12,500 employees.

The tree giveaway is part of Entergy’s . Customers select from a variety of tree species. The free trees are delivered to customers’ homes along with guidance on where to plant trees to maximize their energy-saving benefits. Since Entergy launched its program two years ago, 4,700 customers have received free trees.

An interactive online program helps customers determine the best place to plant their tree for shade and other energy-saving benefits, while avoiding power lines.

Based on a follow-up survey, nearly 80% of participants said they would recommend the ���ϳԹ���-Saving Trees program to others. Customer comments included:

• “Already recommended the program to my neighbor. My tree arrived looking healthy and is doing great.”
• “I love the tool to see savings based on tree type and location. It’s very eye opening and educational.”
• “The tree arrived in a timely manner, healthy, and I think planting new trees in energy-efficient spots is important. Especially after losing so many to hurricanes this fall. But not everyone has the resources to buy the trees to plant, so I think this is a great program.”
• “A wonderful experience from start to finish. The technology involved was super impressive, there was a nice selection of trees, and the quality of the tree that came was amazing.”
• “It was the easiest and most generous program provided to our community.”

More than 62% of survey respondents noted that after experiencing Entergy’s customer tree giveaway, they were more likely to plant a tree in the future.

The program is sponsored through Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund. Since fall 2018, Entergy’s investment of $206,000 will return combined projected energy savings and community benefits exceeding $2 million. The tree giveaway is projected to avoid or capture more than 23 million pounds of carbon, absorb more than 50,750 pounds of other air pollutants and filter more than 92 million gallons of stormwater over the next 20 years.

“We love that customers see the benefits of planting trees and are partnering with us on this initiative,” said Kelli Dowell, Entergy’s director of environmental policy who manages the Environmental Initiatives Fund. “Together, we are helping create cleaner, more sustainable communities.”

“Entergy is a great partner on the ���ϳԹ���-Saving Tree Program because the objectives of the program support Entergy’s sustainability strategy designed to protect the environment and improve communities,” said Kristen Bousquet, the Arbor Day Foundation’s program manager. “By leveraging the power of customer engagement, Entergy is contributing to a bright future for all.”

Customers can follow Entergy on social media and watch for new opportunities to reserve free trees from Entergy this spring.

Related Articles:

• Entergy’s Tree Giveaway Helps Customers Plant Trees, Make Memories
• Entergy Partners with Customers to Plant Trees, Benefit Communities
• Entergy Customers Claim Free ���ϳԹ��� Saving Trees
• Entergy Harnesses the Power of Trees

Since Entergy launched its program two years ago, 925 Entergy Arkansas customers and 3,700 customers across the company’s four-state utility service area have received free trees to plant at home.

Customers received a free sapling delivered to their door in a one- to three-foot container through the company’s partnership with the . As part of the program, Entergy provides education about how to avoid power lines when planting and maximize the energy-savings benefits, as one well-placed tree can save a homeowner up to 20 percent of energy costs.

“It’s amazing that something as simple as planting a tree can improve our lives in so many different ways,” said Heath Williams with Entergy Arkansas vegetation field operations. “It’s also an activity that promotes thinking about the future and how taking action today can make the world a better place for years to come. Entergy’s tree giveaway fits perfectly with our commitment to sustainability and our focus on creating environmental, social and financial benefits for all of our stakeholders.”

In addition to benefits for customers, the program creates advantages for communities and the environment. Powered by Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund and the company’s vegetation management organization, the tree giveaway is projected to avoid or capture more than 17.7 million pounds of carbon, absorb nearly 39,000 pounds of other air pollutants, and filter nearly 71 million gallons of stormwater over the next 20 years across the Entergy service area.

In its second year, Entergy Arkansas committed $40,250 with a total Entergy investment of $160,000 in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Arkansas. That investment combined with the projected energy savings and community benefits exceeds $1.5 million over the next 20 years.

Participants who responded to a follow-up survey gave the program a net promoter score of 73.68, which indicates how likely on a scale of 100 they would be to recommend it to others. When asked why they would recommend the ���ϳԹ���-Saving Trees program, their answers included:��

• We planted the tree as a family at our new home. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to request a tree, plant it and take care of it, and watch it grow.
• This was an excellent program to help teach my children the importance of trees.
• This was a fun and family-friendly way to spend time together and beautify my family’s world!
• My tree arrived healthy and ready to plant! I desperately need shade in my back yard and to help shade the back of the house from morning sun.

“We’re encouraged by the enthusiastic feedback we continue to receive for our tree-planting partnerships with Entergy and other companies,” said Kristen Bousquet, the Arbor Day Foundation’s program manager. “Engaging families in strategic tree planting and care helps protect the environment and reduce the impacts of climate change while improving the quality of our air and supporting water and soil management.”

Customers should check for opportunities to reserve a free tree this fall, with choices of Red Maple, Little Gem Magnolia, Red Oak, Tulip Poplar and Crape Myrtle Natchez.

Entergy Arkansas provides electricity to approximately 700,000 customers in 63 counties. Entergy Arkansas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ��� (NYSE: ETR), an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 9,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of $11 billion and approximately 13,600 employees.

Entergy provided 1,000 free trees to customers who signed up for the , along with guidance on where to plant trees to maximize their energy-saving benefits. Since Entergy launched its program two years ago, 3,700 customers have received free trees to plant at home.

The program provides education about smartly planting trees for shade and other energy-saving benefits, as well as making sure power lines are avoided.

Participants who responded to a follow-up survey gave the program a net promoter score of 73.68, which indicates how likely on a scale of 100 they would be to recommend it to others. When asked why they would recommend the ���ϳԹ���-Saving Trees program, their answers included:

• “We planted the tree as a family at our new home. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to request a tree, plant it and take care of it and watch it grow.”

• “This was an excellent program to help teach my children the importance of trees.”

• “This was a fun and family-friendly way to spend time together and beautify my family’s world!”

• “My tree arrived healthy and ready to plant! I desperately need shade in my back yard and to help shade the back of the house from morning sun.”

In addition to benefits for customers, the program creates advantages for communities and the environment. Powered by Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund and the company’s vegetation management organization since fall 2018, the tree giveaway is projected to avoid or capture more than 17.7 million pounds of carbon, absorb nearly 39,000 pounds of other air pollutants and filter nearly 71 million gallons of stormwater over the next 20 years.

For Entergy’s investment of approximately $160,000, the combined projected energy savings and community benefits exceed $1.5 million.

“It’s amazing that something as simple as planting a tree can improve our lives in so many different ways,” said Kelli Dowell, Entergy’s director of environmental policy who manages the Environmental Initiatives Fund. “It’s also an activity that promotes thinking about the future and how taking action today can make the world a better place for years to come. Entergy’s tree giveaway fits perfectly with our commitment to sustainability and our focus on creating environmental, social and financial benefits for all of our stakeholders.”

“We’re encouraged by the enthusiastic feedback we continue to receive for our tree-planting partnerships with Entergy and other companies,” said Kristen Bousquet, the Arbor Day Foundation’s program manager. “Engaging families in strategic tree planting and care helps protect the environment and reduce the impacts of climate change while improving the quality of our air and supporting water and soil management.”

Customers can follow Entergy on social media and watch for new opportunities to reserve free trees from Entergy this fall.

Related Articles:

• Entergy Partners with Customers to Plant Trees, Benefit Communities
• Entergy Customers Claim Free ���ϳԹ��� Saving Trees
• Entergy Harnesses the Power of Trees

, a partnership between the Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters, recognizes public and private utilities for pursuing practices that protect and enhance America’s urban trees. Tree Line USA promotes the dual goals of delivering safe and reliable electricity while maintaining healthy community forests.

“Trees are a critical part of urban landscapes all across the United States,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “They provide important benefits to residents, including clean air and water. Service providers like Entergy��demonstrate that it’s possible for trees and utilities to co-exist for the benefit of communities and citizens.”

Entergy��achieved Tree Line USA by meeting five program standards. Utilities must follow industry standards for quality tree care; provide annual worker training in best tree care practices; sponsor a tree planting and public education program; maintain a tree-based energy conservation program; and participate in an Arbor Day celebration.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at��.

That’s why, since fall 2018, ���ϳԹ��� has provided free trees to customers through the Arbor Day Foundation’s ���ϳԹ���-Saving Trees program. Since then, 2,700 trees have been delivered directly to customers’ homes across the company’s four-state utility service area, including Louisiana.

This fall, 250 Louisiana homeowners reserved free trees. The trees came 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 to optimize the benefits.

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 our communities and the environment. Last year, Entergy’s Environmental Initiative Fund and vegetation management organization:

• Avoided over 1.5 million pounds of carbon
• Absorbed over 3,000 pounds of air pollutants
• Filtered over 6 million gallons of storm water in Louisiana

“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.”

Since 2018, the trees planted through funding provided by Entergy’s environmental grant program and the corporation’s vegetation management organization have helped sequester/avoid 12 million pounds of carbon, absorbed 27,000 pounds of other air pollutants and filtered 50 million gallons of stormwater across Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas. For Entergy’s investment of approximately $100,000, the combined energy savings and community benefits exceed $1.1 million.

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