Glendale Goes Green the Right Way

Glendale, Ariz. – Everyone loves a tree but not every tree is where it needs to be. That is the whole idea behind a new city of Glendale partnership with Salt River Project (SRP). If you live in an area with overhead power lines or other electric infrastructure, tree height and distance from the power lines can cause safety concerns as trees can spark a fire or power outage, especially during monsoon storms.

To correct this safety issue,167 trees near power lines in Glendale will be removed. Under the Right Tree Right Place program, SRP will provide the city with new power-line friendly trees of a more suitable height for those areas. The city will get three trees every one tree that is removed. In total, the city will receive 500 new trees with this program. The extra trees will be planted in other places in our city along our public streets and in our parks providing beauty and additional shade canopy around Glendale.

“SRP looks forward to partnering with Glendale on the Right Tree Right Place program for a number of reasons, including improving air quality, reducing carbon emissions and the urban heat island effect and beautifying the area with new tree plantings, but most importantly, ensuring electric service reliability and public safety,” said Kelly Barr, Chief Strategy, Corporate Services & Sustainability Executive at SRP. “Trees planted within 25 feet of a power line should not exceed 20 feet in height at maturity. Trees taller than 20 feet at mature height should be planted at least 40 feet away from overhead lines.”

While that is great guidance moving forward, unfortunately there are many trees, planted over the years, that do not meet those guidelines. That is why the city of Glendale and SRP are working together to replace trees that pose potential problems.

Under the Right Tree Right Place program, trees that threaten power lines will be removed and replaced with height appropriate tree species.

“We realize it can be disconcerting to see some mature trees removed,” says Glendale Assistant City Manager Jack Friedline. “But in the long run, SRP will actually be providing more trees better suited to the site, providing more shade in our city without damaging infrastructure, while also reducing costs for taxpayers and ratepayers alike.”

The program will begin November 9, 2020 at Glendale’s O’Neil, Bicentennial and Grand Canal Trail Parks before moving onto other areas. Moon Valley Nurseries will be the official supplier for new trees. New tree planting will begin in mid-December. The project is expected to be completed in mid-to-late February.

In the long run, the Right Tree Right Place program will help SRP maintain electric reliability, ensure public safety and work toward its goal of adding shade and reducing the urban heat island effect, which is going green the right way.

For more information please call 623-930-2000 or visit: www.glendaleaz.com/RightTree

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