LINCOLN, Nebraska – Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative (MEC) has been named a 2025 Tree Line USA Utility by the Arbor Day Foundation to recognize its dedication to proper urban forest management in its service area. This is the eleventh consecutive year that the Cooperative has been awarded this recognition.
Ray DeJarnette, former arborist and vegetation manager, was instrumental in establishing MEC’s Tree Line USA program, and for many years he and his team celebrated Arbor Day by planting trees at elementary schools within MEC’s service territory. He was always excited about this program and enjoyed talking to the children and teaching them the importance of trees for the environment. He would then gather the group to observe the proper way to plant a tree. DeJarnette passed away this past March.
Tree Line USA is a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters. The program recognizes public and private utilities for pursuing best practices that protect and cultivate America's urban tree canopy. In addition, Tree Line USA promotes delivering safe and reliable electricity while maintaining healthy community forests.
By joining the Tree Line USA program, MEC benefits from lowering line clearance costs due to proper pruning. As a result of those properly pruned and maintained trees, MEC Members benefit from increased reliability of service because those properly maintained trees will have healthy root systems that decay less, have less structural weakness and ultimately result in fewer downed lines during storms.
“We are proud to be recognized for our ongoing efforts for eleven years in a row, and grateful to Ray for connecting MEC with the Arbor Day Foundation and the Tree Line USA program. It has been a beneficial partnership, both for the Cooperative and for our membership,” said Casey Logan, MEC president and CEO. “MEC has a robust vegetation management program that helps protect the trees while also ensuring they remain clear of the power lines, providing reliable electric service for our Members.”
Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative 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, Arbor Day celebration.
More information about Tree Line USA can be found at www.arborday.org/TreeLineUSA.