To help prevent service interruptions and enhance system reliability, West Penn Power crews will be removing trees damaged by the emerald ash borer located near power lines in Kittanning and Rural Valley later this year.
Year-to-date, more than 7,700 dead ash trees have been removed, with an additional 3,300 ash trees expected to be removed by year-end.
The ash tree removal work is budgeted at more than $1 million and is part of West Penn Power’s $31 million vegetation management program for 2015, which includes work along more than 4,500 miles of power lines throughout the company’s 24-county service area in central and western Pennsylvania.
Since the emerald ash borer program began three years ago, West Penn Power forestry contractors are on pace to remove more than 20,000 dead or damaged ash trees.
“Throughout our service area, more ash trees near power lines are succumbing to damage from the ash borer, posing an ongoing risk to our electrical infrastructure,” said David W. McDonald, president of West Penn Power. “To enhance reliability, we continue to target and aggressively remove dead ash trees before they can disrupt service to our customers.”
In Fall 2014, West Penn Power officials cut trees in Ford City and Freeport due to the infestation.
The invasive emerald ash borer originated in Asia and was first confirmed in the U.S. in Michigan in 2002. The infestation has since spread to Pennsylvania and 21 other 2 states where it has killed millions of trees.
West Penn Power first detected the emerald ash borer in Butler County in 2012.
As part of its proactive communications efforts, West Penn Power works with local municipalities to inform them of upcoming tree work schedules.
Additionally, customers living in areas along company rights-of-way also are notified prior to the start of vegetation management activities.
All tree work is conducted to national standards by West Penn Power’s certified forestry contractors, including Asplundh Tree Expert Company, Jaflo Inc., Lewis Tree Service Inc., Penn Line Service Inc., Townsend Tree Service and Davey Tree Expert Company.
Along with Kittanning and Rural Valley, other regional communities where dead ash trees will be removed include several communities in Westmoreland County – such as New Kensington and Oklahoma – and trees in Butler and Hannahstown in Butler County.
West Penn Power serves about 720,000 customers in 24 Pennsylvania counties. Follow West Penn Power on Twitter @W_Penn_Power and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WestPennPower.