Oct 3, 2022 | Safety and Security
The 167th Bloomsburg Fair was about more than fries and snow cones, rides, and prize-winning livestock. Visitors to the fair also had a chance to learn all about electrical safety, courtesy of PPL Electric Utilities.
Fairgoers watch an electrical safety demonstration
During the fair, attendees were invited to visit our Live Line Electrical Safety Exhibit to watch regular electrical safety demonstrations each day. The exhibit featured a scaled down, 7,200-volt electrical distribution system.
During demonstrations, the public saw our trained employees, wearing protective equipment in a controlled environment, using ladders, gloves, shovels, and other tools to illustrate the spark, flames, smoke, and crackle that occur when items contact live electrical lines. Our team also showed what happens when contacting underground power lines while digging.
The exhibit, which was designed by our employees in 2015 as part of our commitment to protecting the safety of our communities, is used to educate first responders and others about how to stay safe around power lines and electrical equipment. More than 51,000 people have seen demonstrations since we started taking the exhibit across our 29-county Pennsylvania service territory.
If you think your organization may be interested in a demonstration, please contact Doug Haupt at dlhaupt@pplweb.com. Available dates for 2022 are booked, but 2023 bookings have begun. You can also visit our Safety and Community page to learn more about our commitment to safety in the communities we serve.
Promoting electrical safety and putting down [Community] Roots
During several days at the fair our Community Roots program also was on hand to distribute free trees to fairgoers.
Since our Community Roots program started in 2017, we have given away over 127,000 trees and pollinator plants to help stabilize streambanks, beautify neighborhoods and provide important habitat for birds, bees and butterflies. During Community Roots events, our employees also remind attendees to call 811 before they dig and ensure they do not plant trees under or near electrical facilities.
Oct 29, 2021 | Community Involvement, Environment
From August through October, our Community Roots Program made its way across PA.
Our employees visited events, like baseball games, throughout our service territory, to deliver free plants and seeds to our customers. Their mission: spread the word about pollinators and how important it is to protect and preserve the environment we all love.
Along the way, they met a few plant enthusiasts, environmental champions, and captured some great moments.
Check them out!
In Williamsport, Chris Stamatedes, PPL Electric’s Regional Director of Operations, threw out the first pitch at the largest attended Crosscutters baseball game of the season!
We also visited one of the coolest spots in the area for First Friday- The Lancaster Science Factory.
And we couldn’t miss an Iron Pigs game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown!
We spent a beautiful sunny day at the Newfoundland Farmers Market and donated more than 250 mint plants to our friends in the Northeast region.
At the Forks Farmers Market in Orangeville our volunteers arrived in style with our electric vehicle. They spent the day talking with customers about how we plant pollinators in our right-of-way areas.
We passed through Schuylkill County and set up a booth at the Hometown Farmers Market. There, customers had the opportunity to package their own native pollinator seed mix to plant at their homes.
Did you pick up a mint plant or pollinator seeds at one of our recent events? Post pictures of your planted pollinators on Facebook. Tag PPL Electric Utilities, and use the hashtag: #MyPPLPollinatorPatch.
And if we missed you this season, don’t worry- we’ll be back! Follow us on social media for upcoming Community Roots pop-ups!
Aug 11, 2021 | Community Involvement, Environment
We’re passionate about pollinators and the positive impact they have on our environment. Birds, bees, and butterflies are just a few of the pollinators that help sustain our ecosystem. And we’re committed to preserving and protecting them.
Since 2017, we have distributed more than 105,000 free trees through our Community Roots program to help preserve the environment by reducing greenhouse gases and promoting healthy waterways.
Now, we’re adapting our Community Roots efforts and focusing on giving these birds, bees, and butterflies a natural food source. A minty one, at that!
We’ll be providing free pollinator-friendly mountain mint, grown by Edge of the Woods Plant Nursery, at baseball games and farmers’ markets across our territory through the fall.
Visit pplelectric.com or follow us on social media for updates on our environmental programs and upcoming events near you.
Planting your own pollinators? Post a photo on Facebook, tag PPL Electric Utilities, and use the hashtag #MyPPLPollinatorPatch.
Thanks for joining us in our efforts towards a greener future!
May 5, 2021 | Community Involvement, Environment
Thousands of blueberry, serviceberry, eastern redbud, river oak and sycamore trees are getting planted across our territory, thanks to our Community Roots program.
Just this week, our employees distributed nearly 12,000 tree seedlings to conservation organizations, such as Wildlands Conservancy in Lehigh County, where they’re being prepared for spring planting.
Since 2017, we have distributed more than 105,000 free trees to help preserve the environment by reducing greenhouse gases, promoting healthy waterways, and giving birds, bees, and butterflies a natural food source.
The trees, which also help to beautify parks and other public spaces, are given to environmentally focused groups, municipal and county governments and fourth grade students at schools in our service territory.
“Community Roots is a great way for us to promote trees and their benefits and reinforce to the public our commitment to the environment,” said Lori Burkert, manager of Environmental Compliance.
May 18, 2020 | Environment
Caring about the environment means more than just following rules and regulations.
It’s about doing more because you want to do more.
That’s why something like World Bee Day matters to us at PPL.
Right now, we’re working to come up with a program to grow pollinator-attracting plants on our own properties, as well as being able to offer pollinator seed mix to property owners when we’re restoring land after a construction project.
Pollination by bees, butterflies and other animals help produce 75 percent of the world’s food according to the World Economic Forum. However, declines in bee populations in several places, including North America, have scientists concerned.
In addition to pollinators, we’re engaged in other initiatives designed to improve the world around us. Our Community Roots program has provided more than 105,000 free trees to conservation organizations. We’ve also installed nesting platforms for ospreys across our service territory to help them stay away from power lines and ensure reliable service for our customers.
For more about our environmental activities, visit pplelectric.com/environment.
