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Trees in Communities
Tree Line USA
Recognizing utilities for best practices in tree care, worker training, and community engagement — Tree Line USA promotes safe, reliable service and healthier urban forests.
Power meets purpose
We believe the power grid and the urban forest can thrive together, and we recognize utility providers who make that vision a reality through thoughtful, community-first practices.
Tree Line USA, a program of the Arbor Day Foundation, celebrates forward-thinking utilities that follow best practices in utility arboriculture—strengthening reliability, sustainability, and public trust.
143
Recognized Utilities
$64M
Invested in urban forestry management
$.80
Invested per customer
The Tree Line USA Network
Joining these leading utility providers across the nation in prioritizing trees in the community.
Five Core Standards
Overview
Overview
We believe every utility can grow something greater. Tree Line USA’s five standards guide utilities of all sizes in delivering reliable service while caring for trees and communities.
Recognition is earned annually for work done January 1 through December 31. The application portal opens September through March, your chance to highlight leadership in safety, sustainability, and stewardship.
Protecting Trees Together
Our work begins and ends with understanding everyone’s impact on trees. Tree Line USA partners demonstrate compliance to industry standards for pruning, planting, removals, trenching, and tunneling near trees. We also help encourage quality assurance related to:
- Utility pruning
- Integrated vegetation management
- Underground utility construction
Empowering Your Employees
Tree Line USA partners conduct and document best practice training at least once a year. These trainings help educate employees, contract workers, and supervisors who perform or oversee right-of-way vegetation maintenance.
Connecting With Your Community
Guiding your customers on the proper placement and pruning of trees is a critical part of our program. Our partners coordinate dedicated educational programs and communications for the public and paying customers, allocating an annual expenditure of at least 10 cents per customer to education.
A Plan to Protect
Tree Line USA utilities lead by example with a formal tree-based energy conservation program. Through customer education, local partnerships, and strategic tree planting on private property, they show how trees can naturally lower energy use and create more efficient, comfortable landscapes.
Honoring Arbor Day
Tree Line USA utilities proudly sponsor and take part in annual Arbor Day celebrations, partnering with municipalities, schools, and community groups to plant trees and strengthen community connections through shared stewardship.
Be part of the community
See the network you'll join as a recognized utility, including other members, and access Tree Line USA marketing materials here.
Benefits
The Tree Line USA Impact
When you prioritize your community’s trees, you demonstrate that you’re a leader. Here are some of the biggest benefits to becoming a Tree Line USA partner.
Your impact
Tree Line USA partners amplify the community forestry work already being done by local governments, community organizations, nonprofits, and other stakeholders.
Your customers
Keep your customers happy, loyal, and connected. Caring for trees improves their quality of life and decreases service disruptions due to tree-related issues.
Your commitment
Show your community what you’re made of. Tree Line USA partners enhance their public image by demonstrating a real commitment to the environment and their community.
Your brand
Tree Line USA recognition and marketing materials help you easily tout your environmental commitment to the audiences that matter most to you.
Your costs
It’s more cost-effective to manage trees proactively than to react to issues later. Following Tree Line USA standards can lower your long-term operational costs.
Your operations
Good news for your neighborhoods, and your bottom line: well-planned and maintained trees help reduce outages and emergency repairs.
The network effect
Trees & Utilities
Conservation is a collaboration. At our annual Trees & Utilities conference, we bring professionals together for camaraderie, education, and sharing best practices. Join us to connect and learn new ways to put your program on a path to success.
Testimonials
Ready to apply?
Become a Tree Line USA
The Tree Line USA application portal opens annually in September and remains open until the following spring. Applications must meet all five standards through activities completed between January 1 and December 31. Find your state’s deadline to complete your application on time.
Tree Line USA is an Arbor Day Foundation Program in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the Utility Arborist Association.
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Our Community Forestry Connection newsletter keeps you up to date on programs, best practices, and opportunities for conservation leadership.
