vegetation management
Trees do a lot of good for our communities. They clean the air, absorb carbon dioxide, and — when planted in the right places — help shield homes from harsh winds and summer sun. That natural protection can even reduce the energy needed to heat and cool our homes. But when trees grow too close to power lines, those benefits can quickly turn into serious safety risks.
In early March, a spring storm ravaged much of the region served by Logan County Electric Cooperative in Bellefontaine.
“System reliability and safety are extremely important,” says Scott Roach, director of engineering services at LCEC. “With every new project, every work plan, it’s always with that in mind.”
Foliage foibles
One of the most significant factors affecting that reliability is the presence of trees. Of course, properly placed trees not only are beautiful to look at, but they also provide tangible benefits: increasing property values, reducing the cost to heat and cool a home, providing privacy, and even cutting stormwater runoff.
