Duke Energy's tree giveaway encourages Floridians to plant the right tree in the right place to keep the power flowing

Duke Energy Florida's Tree Initiative - Duke Energy Florida is distributing 1,000 free trees to customers in collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation, available for request starting January 17, 2025, at 9 a.m. [1] - The 1-gallon trees, including species like sweetbay magnolia and red maple, will be shipped directly to customers' homes with planting instructions and are expected to arrive by National Arbor Day in April [2] - The company has distributed over 15,000 free trees since 2017 through its partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and local communities [4][6] Tree Management and Safety Practices - Duke Energy Florida employs certified arborists and environmental specialists who work year-round to identify hazards, trim trees, apply herbicides, and remove trees that threaten power lines [3] - The company emphasizes a balanced approach to tree management, ensuring tree health while maintaining reliable power service for its 2 million customers [5] - Customers are encouraged to follow the "Right Tree, Right Place" guidelines to reduce power outages by planting trees away from power lines and maintaining clearances around transformers [7][8] Duke Energy's Clean Energy Transition - Duke Energy is executing a clean energy transition, aiming for net-zero methane emissions by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 [11] - The company is investing in grid upgrades and cleaner energy sources, including renewables, natural gas, nuclear, and energy storage [11] Company Overview - Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity and serves 2 million customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida [9] - Duke Energy, a Fortune 150 company, serves 8.4 million electric customers and 1.7 million natural gas customers across six states, with a total energy capacity of 54,800 megawatts [10] Arbor Day Foundation Collaboration - The Arbor Day Foundation, a global nonprofit, has planted over half a billion trees and works with partners like Duke Energy to promote tree planting and care [13] - Duke Energy Florida has been recognized for its tree management practices through the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Line USA program for nearly 20 years [4]