2023-02-BRE MM

Membership MATTERS

Vegetation management:

Balancing power reliability with scenic beauty

The single major cause of power outages is damage to power lines from trees and limbs during severe weather such as high winds, heavy snow, ice or lightning.

With over 8,000 miles of power lines to protect, Blue Ridge Energy works year-round on vegetation management to ensure members have the most reliable electricity possible. Blue Ridge ranks among the most reliable electric providers in the nation, and in recent years, has added another method to help achieve reliability in a safe, environmentally friendly manner — aerial tree pruning.

This method utilizes specially trained helicopter pilots who carefully conduct pruning along rights-of-way. Trained “spotters” are located on ground level and are in constant communication with the pilot.

Used by utilities across the nation for years, aerial tree pruning is approved by the American National Standards Institute. The process is less intrusive to member property and the environment than traditional methods.

As with all vegetation management, members are notified in advance of pruning. Debris is removed from maintained areas, while in non-maintained areas, debris is either left or bush hogged to the ground.

Our vegetation management program combines several growth control methods that balance scenic beauty with safe, reliable power. For more information, visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com/ROW

Perspective

Giving back is a cooperative tradition. The Members Foundation and Operation Round Up® reflect the power of partnership between members and your electric cooperative. Working together, I’m proud to say that we’re making life better for the people and communities we serve, and the latest special “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” campaign is one example.

I want to say a sincere thank you to everyone who has supported this campaign and are joining with us to help meet the need.

A portion of Operation Round Up is used each year for crisis heating assistance, with the rest going to community grants to other local not-for-profit organizations that also help our members. This winter, we projected a higher need for crisis heating assistance due to significantly increased prices for heating fuel and kerosene, and propane to a lesser degree. Bills are also being impacted by increases in electric generation fuels. Neighbors Helping Neighbors is helping raise additional funds to fill this need.

I’m pleased to say that as of the date this newsletter went to press, Neighbors Helping Neighbors was on track to raise well over $25,000 for Operation Round Up to help

more households than ever stay warm. Contributions are coming from members, Blue Ridge Energy employees and Board members as well as others. Our subsidiary companies also played a large role: while Blue Ridge Energy Propane and Fuels and RidgeLink typically donate $50,000 each year to Operation Round Up, Propane and Fuels donated an extra $25,000 to kick off the campaign.

As winter continues and the need remains, we invite you to make a donation at any time to the Neighbors Helping Neighbors campaign. Every penny donated will be used to provide additional funds to Operation Round Up for crisis heating assistance this season. It’s the cooperative spirit of our members and communities that make programs like this successful. Again, I want to say a sincere “thank you” for your support and for being a good neighbor to help someone in need this winter.

Scholarship and leadership opportunities are available as part of Blue Ridge Energy’s support of local communities.

To qualify for these opportunities, high school students must join Blue Ridge Energy’s Leadership Track in their freshman or sophomore years, or as early as possible during high school. To join or learn more, visit: BlueRidgeEnergy.com/LeadershipTrack

In February, qualifying seniors involved in Blue Ridge Energy’s Leadership Track will be invited to apply for up to eight $4,000 renewable scholarships for students seeking a four-year degree. Awards are based on leadership performance, resume development and a personal interview.

Additionally, for students in Caldwell County, Blue Ridge Energy helps administer the Charles and Lucille Suddreth scholarship, which awards $800 for a student seeking a vocational degree including the Electrical Lineworker Institute. Financial need and academic performance are the primary criteria and the deadline for applications is April 15. Apply at: BlueRidgeEnergy.com/scholarships

Leadership camp opportunities as well as college bound workshops are also available to high school students in the Blue Ridge Energy Leadership Track. Learn more at: BlueRidgeEnergy.com/LeadershipTrack.

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