Jun 23, 2020 | Environment
At PPL Electric Utilities, we see a great opportunity to help provide pollinator-friendly habitats in the communities we serve.
It’s why we’ve been doing research to develop a cost-effective seed mix of native, pollinator plants that we may be able to plant when we restore land after completing transmission line work or substation projects. We assess pollinator test plots at our properties to see what species of plants will work best as part of future projects.
In addition to providing an ideal habitat for pollinators, the right mix of native plantings would save costs by potentially requiring less vegetation management and treatment.
This project is particularly timely because of declining pollinator populations and the need to preserve and protect them.
“We’re really excited to see what happens during the current growing season,” said Lori Burkert, environmental compliance manager at PPL Electric Utilities. “Our goal is to make this a viable, sustainable option for future projects.”
Our pollinator program also helped us create a partnership with Merrill W. Linn Land & Waterways Conservancy. This partnership gave us the opportunity to provide the Conservancy with a mix of native seeds for planting in their easements. We also contributed trees from our popular Community Roots program.
“We’re doing this because it’s the right thing to do,” Burkert said. “And we’re always looking for ways to come up with innovative, environmental-friendly, sustainable solutions for the work we do.”
For more information on pollinators, visit pollinator.org.
Dec 13, 2019 | Environment
Our employees helped ensure that a large amount of electronics will be recycled – rather than end up in a landfill. Nearly 1,000 electronics items were collected during the first-of-its-kind recycling event organized by our Environmental Compliance department earlier this year.
Among the items collected:
- 279 cables or cords
- 143 television sets
- 122 phones
- 119 computers
- 86 stereos or CD players
- 59 DVD, Blu-ray and VHS players
The event was designed to help employees recycle items that are becoming increasingly difficult to recycle. Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world.
The recycling event is among a number of initiatives we’ve undertaken to benefit the environment.
We also recycle wood poles and materials like copper, aluminum, steel and mineral oil. We’ve distributed thousands of trees to community organizations, schools and governments through the Community Roots program, and we recently started a Future Environmental Leaders Scholarship program.
Read more about our environmental commitment here: Environment and Energy Efficiency.
Dec 17, 2018 | Safety and Security
If there’s one thing PPL Electric Utilities employee Jeffrey Barton doesn’t have, it’s a walk-by attitude.
If he sees a hazardous condition or something potentially unsafe, he’s going to say something about it.
That safety mindset may have saved a life.
Barton, an 11-year PPL employee, is being credited with preventing potentially serious injuries when he identified an unsafe situation at the scene of November house fire in Northampton County.
After removing an electric meter from the house as directed by the fire chief, Barton heard what he thought to be the humming sound of a generator. Unsure if it was a generator being used by firefighters or one tied into the house where the fire was burning, Barton did some digging.
He determined there was a whole-house generator that had kicked on, so he quickly found the fire chief and made him aware that the house still had power.
Barton then worked with the firefighters to turn off the fuel source for the generator and turn off the generator itself.
“The firefighters were grateful,” said Barton, who is based at the Lehigh Service Center. “Having a don’t-walk-by attitude paid off.”
Brian Matweecha, manager-Safety Operations, praised Barton for his efforts that day.
“This was a great catch,” Matweecha said. “What Jeffrey did may very well have saved a fireman’s life. He set a great example for all of us to have a questioning attitude and to look out for the safety of others.”
Nov 5, 2018 | Environment
When PPL Electric Utilities unveiled its plan to give out thousands of trees as part of its Community Roots program, no one was more excited – or proud – than Eric Beaver.
The PPL environmental professional and self-proclaimed lover of the outdoors saw a great opportunity to not only educate the public about the importance of trees, but to get tree seedlings in the hands of environmentally-focused organizations, schools and local governments.
“It’s a great program and I’m proud to be a part of it,” said Beaver.
“We’re always thinking about the next thing we can do to make the environment better,” he added. “We have an obligation to do that.”
Beaver, who has been with PPL for nearly six years, saw the program as a way to help improve communities he serves in parts of the Susquehanna Valley, Harrisburg and central Pennsylvania. (To see a brief video about Beaver, click here.)
An estimated 20,000 trees are being planted across the PPL service territory in central and eastern Pennsylvania this year as part of the program.
The tree orders for delivery in 2019 have already been filled. Schools, organizations and governments who wish to participate in 2020 will be able to begin ordering trees again in spring 2019.
Beaver is responsible for protecting wetlands, watersheds and waterways at PPL projects that are designed to improve service and reliability to the company’s 1.4 million customers.
A graduate of Mansfield University of Pennsylvania with a degree in fishery biology, Beaver joined PPL after working for much of his career at Soil Conservation Districts in Potter and Lycoming counties.
As a lifelong hunter and fisherman, his career choice was a no brainer.
“I’ve always like the outdoors and being in the environment,” said Beaver, who lives in Northumberland County. “I’ve always wanted to be doing something that kept me outdoors, so in that respect, I’m living out my dream.”
And he’s also doing his best to pass on that love for and respect of nature. In addition to helping PPL carry out the Community Roots program, Beaver also has been involved with Pennsylvania Envirothon, which uses teachers and other professionals to guide high school students through an environmental education program and competition.
He helps guide the student teams from station to station to take the variety of tests and challenges they face during the day.
“Any chance you get to help kids and educate them is rewarding,” Beaver said.
Sep 11, 2018 | Safety and Security
When workers on a PPL contractor crew were faced with a life or death situation last year, they responded by helping to save someone’s life.
And they managed to do so because they were alert and prepared to react in an emergency situation with the knowledge of how to find and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Their heroics that day were a reminder of the importance of being as prepared as possible to respond to health emergencies.
National Preparedness Month is a good time of the year to make sure you have access to a first aid kit at home and during your travels and to get familiar with the use of and locations of AEDs.
For information on life-saving skills tools, visit the Department of Homeland Security’s Ready.gov website and its section on life-saving skills.
It’s a good idea to get in the habit of discussing what to do when an emergency occurs and where to direct first responders during an emergency.
It’s also important to make co-workers, friends and relatives aware of any health-related issues, allergies or conditions that could lead to emergency situations at home and at work.
