OEC Helps Give Away 1,300 Trees in Newcastle, Norman

By Brianna Wall | Editor & Creative Director

We at OEC know the value of a well-placed tree and believe they can help tremendously with reducing energy costs in addition to their many other benefits. That's why we helped provide over 1,300 free trees to residents of Norman and Newcastle in partnership with the City of Norman, the City of Newcastle and OG&E.

"Both cities were recipients of the Apache Corporation's Tree Grant Program," said Clifford Chastain, manager of vegetation management who recently earned his Certified Arborist credential from the International Society of Arboriculture. "Members of our vegetation management team helped give away and plant the trees, making sure those who took them knew not to plant them underneath power lines."

Over 400 trees were given away in Newcastle, and over 900 were given away in Norman.

"With the help of [certified] arborist Shain Brown [OEC vegetation coordinator], we created a planting plan for over 100 trees at our Veterans Park," said Jeanette McNally, economic development director for the City of Newcastle. "Shain spent many hours after work making the planting plan and assessing our current trees at the park. His expertise as an arborist was such an asset to our city and our citizens at our community tree sale day and our community tree planting day."

OEC's board of trustees knows the benefits trees can have on a home and a community, which is why — in addition to the events in Newcastle and Norman — we partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation in April to give away 100 free trees to members and local schools. It's all part of our mission to improve our members' quality of life through the safe delivery of highly reliable, reasonably priced electric service, innovative energy programs and exceptional member service.

OEC is one of only two electric cooperatives in Oklahoma to be named a Tree Line USA Utility by the Arbor Day Foundation. For the twelfth year in a row, OEC has proven to pursue practices that protect and enhance America's urban trees.