Alagasco turns Alabama green one tree at a time

Written by Administrator

Thursday, 22 October 2009 11:12

Alagasco President Dudley Reynolds and Robinson Elementary School Principal Zenobia Odoms are joined by students who participate in the Better Basics after-school program. These students will help Alagasco and the Alabama Urban Forestry Association plant and grow 15,000 trees throughout the state.

Alagasco President Dudley Reynolds assists students at Robinson Elementary School as they plant a crape myrtle near the playground area. This tree is the first of 15,000 trees that Alagasco will be planting throughout the state in coming months. Visit PlantATree.Alagasco.com to help Alagasco make Alabama more green.

A crowd gathered at Fairfield’s Robinson Elementary School to plant the first of Alagasco’s 15,000 trees on Oct. 14. Those celebrating the first tree were, from left to right, Better Basics Executive Director Karen Kapp; Fairfield Fire and Rescue Chief Kevin Sutton; Robinson Elementary Principal Zenobia Odoms; Fairfield City Schools Superintendent Anthony Greene; State Representative Rod Scott; Alabama Urban Forestry Association Executive Director Fred Kapp; Alagasco President Dudley Reynolds and Fairfield Mayor Kenneth Coachman.

Alagasco is working to help clean the air across Alabama, one tree at a time.

The company’s new “Plant a Tree in 3 Clicks” campaign got its start at Fairfield’s
Robinson Elementary School on Oct. 14. Alagasco President Dudley Reynolds worked with students from the Better Basics after-school program to plant a crape myrtle that will, as it grows along with the students themselves, provide some much-needed shade in the playground area.
What makes this particular tree so special is that it is the first of 15,000 trees that Alagasco will be planting throughout the state. For each survey completed at PlantATree.Alagasco.com, Alagasco will plant one tree.
“Our goal for this tree planting campaign is to show Alabamians that choosing natural gas, just like planting trees, is an easy step towards a cleaner environment,” said Alagasco President Dudley Reynolds. “Help us reach our goal by going to PlantATree.Alagasco.com.”
The 15,000 trees Alagasco will plant have the potential of absorbing at least 225,000 pounds of carbon each year from the air in Alabama.
For Alagasco customers, using natural gas at home and in businesses is another easy way to be green. In Alabama, natural gas homes produce 50 percent less carbon emissions than all-electric homes.
Alagasco will conclude its “Plant a Tree in 3 Clicks” survey to coincide with Alabama’s Arbor Day, which is recognized annually during the last full week of February.
The Alabama Urban Forestry Association (AUFA) will plant and care for Alagasco’s trees. AUFA will cultivate Alagasco’s trees with help from students of Fairfield City Schools and Oak Mountain Middle School in Shelby County. The trees will be given to various organizations to be distributed throughout central Alabama.
“Fairfield is honored that Alagasco has chosen to participate with us for this project. It is a great program not only for the students at Robinson but for the community as well.” said Mayor Kenneth Coachman.
“It is exciting to see the students engaged in a project that will have such long-lasting effects. We are all thankful that Alagasco has embarked on such an important program for the state of Alabama,” said Representative Rod Scott.
Alagasco’s survey is open through February 2010 to residents of Alabama. To participate, go to PlantATree.Alagasco.com.